Feb. 27, 2004
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BERKELEY, Calif. - The Cal women's lacrosse team put up a valiant effort, pressing the No. 17 Notre Dame Fighting Irish to overtime, but in OT the Bears were edged, 12-11. Despite the loss, Coach Jill Malko's team caught a glimpse of its coach's vision - to make Cal a top-20 program. The Bears continue their 2004 campaign, Sunday, as they welcome Ohio State to Memorial Stadium.
In a very well played game on both sides of the ball, it was both teams' defenses that stuck out. Notre Dame's Carol Dixon and Cal's Hilary Lynch, both went the distance for their squads at goal, making breath-taking saves and keeping their respective teams in the game.
Both goalies received defensive help from their friends in the field as well. Captain Meredith Simon scooped eight ground balls for the Irish, while midfielders Abby Owen and Crysti Foote led the Irish with four caused turnovers each.
The Bears were led defensively by Elizabeth Reifsnyder, who picked up four ground balls and caused two turnovers despite noticeably hobbling for much of the contest. Defender Schuyler Sokolow also played a strong defensive game causing two turnovers, while grabbing a groundball herself.
Offensively, the Bears were led by Leanne Zilioli, who scored three times. But it was the freshman, Reifsnyder, who jumpstarted the Bears in the second half, who went into halftime down, 8-3.
Cal came out on fire in the second half, depositing six unanswered goals to take the lead, 9-8. During this 21-minute flurry by the Bears, Reifsnyder and Colleen O'Mara both scored two goals, while Molly Brady and Zilioli score a goal apiece.
The last six minutes of regulation were well played. The Irish scored two goals before the four-minute mark, but the Bears got the final goal with six seconds showing on the clock, when Zilioli sent the game into overtime tied 11-11 with her third goal of the day.
In overtime, the Irish outscored the Bears 2-1, behind two of Owen's three goals in the game to edge the Bears, 12-11.
The loss drops the Bears to 1-2 on the season, but gives them an optimistic feel for the near future.
