Sept. 10, 2010

Final Stats

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - After Thursday's tough loss at Indiana, the California field hockey team rebounded Friday afternoon with a 4-2 victory over Ohio. The contest was a neutral-site match played on the Indiana campus. The Golden Bears had four different goal scorers. Sophomore Claire Dougherty picked up a goal and an assist in the game, as Cal improved to 2-3 overall, while Ohio fell to 1-5.

"After such a hard-fought game yesterday, I was proud of the way we came out today," head coach Shellie Onstead said. "We were strong right from the start. We had been getting a lot of scoring opportunities, but not doing so well with them. We were much better at that today."

Cal did not waste any time getting on the scoreboard. In the sixth minute, sophomore Lauren Livingston redirected a pass from Dougherty into the cage to give the Bears an early 1-0 lead. In the 20th minute, Cal extended that lead to two when senior Lisa Lohre scored on a penalty corner. Sophomore Deanna Kennedy earned the assist. It was Kennedy's third assist this week and her fifth of the year.

"Lisa has been playing really solid defensively," Onstead said. "She's been managing great playing with a broken finger. It's like you can't even tell, and that's great."

Ohio cut the deficit to one with a goal right before halftime. Jessica Jue tallied the Bobcat score.

In the 40th minute, Dougherty notched her goal when she redirected a ball sent into the circle by junior Erin Magill past the Ohio keeper Courtney Seiders. Dougherty tied senior Megan Psyllos for the team lead in goals with four. Dougherty is also the team points leader with nine.

Just over a minute later, sophomore Megan Shimojima gave the Bears a three-goal lead when she tipped a pass from freshman Shannon Elmitt into the cage.

The Bears were able to gain the victory despite being outshot, 17-10, and allowing 12 penalty corners for Ohio to just six for Cal.

Junior Maddie Hand split time in the cage with sophomore Haleh Nourani. Hand made two saves, while Nourani collected eight in the second half.

Psyllos and freshman Andrea Earle each tallied two shots on goal. Onstead praised Psyllos, along with Elmitt and sophomore Laura Spellman for their steady play.

Cal returns to action Sunday, Sept. 12, at No. 11 Louisville at 10 a.m. (PT). The contest marks Cal's second straight week playing a team ranked in the nation's Top 15.