Nov. 1, 2008

Box Score

STANFORD, Calif. - Sixteenth-ranked California suffered its first loss in the NorPac Conference this season with a 2-1 overtime setback to rival Stanford on Saturday afternoon at the rain-drenched Varsity Field Hockey Turf. The Golden Bears had a 1-0 first-half lead before the host Cardinal fought back for the victory. Cal, which had previously won the conference regular-season title and top seed in the NorPac Tournament, saw its record fall to 12-4 (5-1 NorPac). Stanford improved to 6-10 (4-2 NorPac).

Each team defeated its rival on its home field this season, as Cal beat Stanford, 2-1, on Oct. 24 in Berkeley.

"It was a crazy game," Cal head coach Shellie Onstead said of today's match. "We played really well, but there were awful conditions for both teams. I thought we played very well for most of the game. We had opportunities we should have finished, and it would've been a whole different game.

"This was a typical Stanford game where it stays close. We can't not put opportunities in and hope to win. We need a two-goal differential or three-goal differential and not just one goal when we have opportunities like we had today."

Senior defender Carolina Bistue had given Cal a 1-0 lead at the 19:11 mark, scoring a goal set up by a penalty corner for her eighth goal of the season. Senior midfielder/forward Andrea Lo took the corner and senior defender Rachel Moffitt made the stick stop to earn assists for the Bears.

"Caro scored on a high flick that she's been working on all year," Onstead said. "I had her put in more work on it this week, so that was really cool to see."

Cal took the 1-0 lead into halftime.

But Midori Uehara, assisted by Jennifer Luther and Xanthe Travlos, scored at 49:16 to tie the game at 1-1.

The game stayed tied at 1-1 through regulation, forcing the teams to move to seven a side overtime. Cal was down an added player, as sophomore forward Natalie Nurnberg picked up a yellow card in the 69th minute.

Stanford claimed the "sudden victory" when Nora Soza, assisted by Camille Gandhi, scored in the fourth minute of overtime for the clinching goal.

The Bears outshot Stanford, 13-9, and Cal senior goalkeeper Kelly Knoche made three saves in the game. Stanford goalie Alessandra Moss made eight saves.

Cal next competes in the NorPac Tournament hosted by Longwood University in Farmville, Va. The tournament runs Nov. 6-8, with the top-seeded Bears getting a bye in the Nov. 6 first round. They will play in a NorPac semifinal on Nov. 7 against the winner of the Nov. 6 game between fourth-seeded Radford and fifth-seeded Longwood. Stanford's win gives it the No. 2 seed. Cal and Stanford would meet for a third time this season if both teams reach the conference tournament final.

GAME SUMMARY

Goal Summary
Cal - Carolina Bistue (Rachel Moffitt, Andrea Lo) 19:11
Stanford - Midori Uehara (Jennifer Luther, Xanthe Travlos) 49:16
Stanford - Nora Soza (Camille Gandhi) 73:20

Goals by Period
		1	2	OT	F
California	1	0	0	1
Stanford	         0	1	1	2


Shots by Period
		1	2	OT	F
California	6	5	2	13
Stanford	         4	3	2	9


Penalty Corners by Period
		1	2	OT	F
California	3	5	0	8
Stanford	         2	3	1	6


Saves by Period
		1	2	OT	F
California	1	1	1	3
Stanford	         4	4	0	8


Att.: 307.