Nov. 5, 2005
Final Stats
NorPac Tournament Page
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BERKELEY - Last season the California field hockey team's season was ended by Pacific in the championship game. This year the roles were reversed. The Golden Bears (12-7) will return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2003, after they shut out Pacific (12-7) 4-0 Saturday afternoon in the NorPac Conference championship game held at Maxwell Family Field on the Berkeley campus.
Sophomore forward Jenny Crane gave the Bears the early lead five minutes into the game, after she scored off a drive down the left side of the field and tapped in the goal from the left post.
Junior forward Valentina Godfrid scored off a penalty stroke with 18 minutes left in the first period, after freshman forward Missy Crane was tripped up near the goal.
The Golden Bears did not score again until senior midfielder Chilly Banuelos scored off another penalty stroke. The Bears' final goal was scored by senior forward Alexandra Harkins. Missy Crane passed Harkins the ball off a blocked Godfrid shot attempt.
"It was a complete team effort today," Head coach Shellie Onstead said after the game. "We took control early and just let it go. It was fun to watch and coach."
Defensively for the Bears, goalkeeper Veronica Sykes had five saves. Cal out-shot the Tigers 21 to 11. The Bears also collected nine penalty corners to Pacific's six.
Banuelos, Godfrid, freshman forward Andrea Lo and senior defender Jenna Long were selected to the all-tournament team. Godfrid was named the tournament MVP, after collecting four goals in the Bears' two tournament games.
The Bears have won the NorPac tournament five times in the last eight years. Prior to their win today, their most recent NorPac championship victory was in 2003. This will be the seventh appearance for the Bears in the last 15 NCAA tournaments.
"We are so pumped to be going to the tournament," Onstead said. "It is so exciting, we can't wait to find out where and who we will be playing on Tuesday."
The Bears will find out who they will face in the NCAA Regional and the location of that game on Tuesday, Nov. 8. The announcement will be made available live on www.ncaasports.com.
