Aug. 26, 2006
Final Stats
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BERKELEY - The California field hockey team (1-0, 0-0 NorPac) opened its season at Maxwell Family Field right where they left off last season - winners. On Saturday against the No. 6-ranked American Eagles, the Bears went into a thrilling penalty shootout, edging American 4-3.
"This was a great way to start out the season," head coach Shellie Onstead said. "After playing 30 minutes in overtime then going into penalty stroke, I am so proud of the girls that they could pull through."
The Eagles jumped out to an early lead with a goal by Heidi Hershberger within the first four minutes. Senior All-American Valentina Godfrid knocked in the Bears' first goal 13 minutes into the game. Sophomore Rachel Moffitt was credited with the assists.
Starting the second half tied, sophomore Ashley Glosz tapped in a goal off a pass from sophomore Christina McGrath. Ten minutes later American's Savannah Graybill scored a goal. Shortly after the Eagles tied the game, American's Denise Infante was given a red card and ejected from the game.
Even though the Eagles were undermanned, Graybill scored her second goal with six minutes left in the game. Godfrid answered quickly for the Bears, scoring 43 seconds later for the third tie of the match.
After 30 minutes of grueling overtime the game went into penalty shot. This was the first time Cal had gone into penalty strokes since 2000, when Cal edged Stanford, 1-0. Godfrid started out the Bears scoring her shot. On American's first attempt Katie Turner's attempt was saved by sophomore Veronica Sykes, giving the Bears a 1-0 lead.
Glosz scored the next attempt for the Bears, but the Eagles Irene Schickhardt matched Glosz shot. McGrath and the Eagles' Tiffany Carter both matched each other with their own score. With the penalty shot score at 3-1, Moffitt stepped up and nailed her shot making it 4-1. American's Camila Infante shot next for the Eagles, but Skyes again tallied another save, giving the Bears the 4-3 win.
"I told the girls how much respect I have for them (after penalty stroke)," Onstead said. "Penalty stroke are a mental game and they showed how mentally tough they really are. It is what I have been looking from them."
The Bears return to the field on Sunday, Aug. 27 against Massachusetts. The match is slated for a 1 p.m. (PST) start at Maxwell Family Field.
