March 8, 2009

Box Score

BERKELEY - Junior midfielder Alex Tickner, the reigning MPSF Player of the Week, scored a career-high five goals to lead California past UC Davis, 13-6, in an MPSF match on Sunday at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley. The Golden Bears improved their record to 4-3 (2-0 MPSF). The Aggies dropped below .500 at 2-3 (2-3 MPSF). Cal ran its record in the all-time series with UC Davis to 15-4.

"I was really happy with how we came out this game," Cal head coach Theresa Sherry said. "We had a couple of slow starts in the past few games, so it was good to explode right onto the field and take control of the attack. Our defense looked good at the beginning of the game.

"We're still looking to put together a consistent 60 minutes together, maybe with less fouls and more discipline in the defense and the midfield ride, but overall I was really happy with the team effort we put forth as well. I think every single person contributed today in a positive way."

Tickner collected four of her goals in the first half, when six Bears combined to score Cal's nine goals. She also scored a career-high five points against UC Davis.

"Alex has really been working on going hard all over the field and she did a very good job today taking her one on one opportunities, taking that extra second to think before she shot," Sherry said. "She really did a good job finishing. In the midfield, she really did a good job on both ends, especially the attack."

Junior defender DennaFaye Herald struck quickly with her first goal of the season just 14 seconds into the game to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.

Senior attacker Sam Price scored at 3:08 and Tickner, assisted by senior midfielder Elizabeth T Jahp, got her first goal at 3:41. Junior attacker Tighe Hutchins, making her first start of the season, scored her first goal of the season at 5:20, and Cal led the Aggies, 4-0.

Neither team scored for more than three minutes until Gina Hoffmire put UC Davis on the scoreboard with a strike at 8:47 to make the score 4-1.

The Bears reeled off the next four goals - Tickner, assisted by Price, scored at 10:24; junior midfielder Alyse Kennedy, assisted by Hutchins, scored at 11:50; Tickner tallied her third, unassisted, at 14:15; and freshman attacker Tara Arolla added an unassisted goal at 17:04. Cal led, 8-1.

But Davis rebounded by outscoring Cal, 3-1, over the last 10 minutes of the half, with Aggies goals by Molly Peterson (20:29), Christina Corsa (22:23) and Britt Farquharson (27:07). Ticker scored the Bears' lone goal - an eight-meter goal at 25:09 - during that stretch.

Cal took a 9-4 lead into halftime.

The Bears outshot Davis, 16-10, and also collected six yellow cards to the Aggies' one in the first half. Cal eventually outshot Davis, 24-19, for the game. Neither team earned a card in the second half.

The final 30 minutes featured tighter defense but less fouls (13), less shots and less goals. Davis outshot Cal, 9-8, while the Bears outscored the Aggies, 4-2. Tickner (33:36), Price (45:44), Hutchins (assisted by Kennedy at 51:00) and sophomore midfielder Emily Abbood scored for Cal. Corsa (47:05) and Hoffmire (56:29) tallied for the Aggies.

Cal hosts two more games this week. The Bears play William and Mary at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, and face Vermont at noon on Saturday, March 14, at Memorial Stadium.

GAME SUMMARY

		1	2	F
UC Davis	         4	2	6
California	9	4	13

UC Davis Scoring
Goals: Corsa, Christina 2; Hoffmire, Gina 2; Farquharson, Britt 1; Peterson, Molly 1. Assists: Corsa, Christina 1; Lapolla, Molly 1.

California Scoring
Goals: Alex Tickner 5; Tighe Hutchins 2; Sam Price 2; Alyse Kennedy 1; DennaFaye Herald 1; Emily Abbood 1; Tara Arolla 1. Assists: Tighe Hutchins 1; Alyse Kennedy 1; Sam Price 1; Elizabeth T Jahp 1.

Goalkeeping
UC Davis: Alyssa Cranska, 7 saves, 13 GA, 60:00. California: Morgan Dyson, 7 saves, 6 GA, 60:00.

Records: UC Davis 2-3 (2-3 MPSF). California 4-3 (2-0 MPSF).

Att.: 108.