STOCKTON, Calif. – California field hockey punched its ticket to the America East Championship semifinals with a 3-2 come-from-behind win to upset Maine in the tournament quarterfinals Friday afternoon.
 
Down twice to the Black Bears, the Golden Bears found a way to tie the game up both times before America East All-Rookie squad member Katrina Carter sent in the go-ahead goal in the waning minutes of the game. She finished the afternoon with a single-game best three points on her game-winning goal and an earlier assist.
 
The Bears earn a rematch with West Division foe Stanford, who they'll face Saturday at noon.
 
Cal's offense owned the turf, outshooting Maine 21-14 with nine of those on frame. The Bears also held the edge in corners, 8-7, and in just her third career appearance in goal, Cal keeper Danielle Mentink tallied a career-high eight saves in 67 minutes of action.
 
Danielle Aviani scored both goals for Maine in the 32nd and 46th minutes. Her first goal put Cal down, 1-0, before Nicole Henriksson tipped in the equalizer less than 10 minutes later. Carter brought the ball into the circle into the left side, then crossed it to Henriksson to send it in near the 40-minute mark.
 
The Bears once again found themselves on the losing end of the score after Aviani's goal at 45:33, but stayed composed through the second half.

At 59:50, Aviani was issued a green card. 

"I told the team that there was going to be a time when Maine got a card, and that's where we we're going to win the game," said head coach Shellie Onstead. 

The Cal coaching staff pulled Mentink out of the goal briefly, giving Cal a kicking back. With only 10 players on the field for Maine because of the green card, the move gave Cal two extra offensive players. The move led to a Cal penalty corner, which the Bears ultimately earned the game-tying penalty stroke on as Keats Iwanaga's penalty stroke at 63:37 knotted up the score.

"We had to rely on a no-goalie kicking back situation, and after everything that has happened this year, I think our team embraces it with all their experience," Onstead said. "We just had so much energy after that."
 
While it looked like Cal might be having déjà vu of last year's AE quarterfinal, in which the Bears headed into overtime with Maine only to lose on a golden goal by the Black Bears, Carter kept history from repeating itself at 66:48. Gabi Jimenez dribbled at the top of the circle and released it toward Carter, who sent it right into the goal for the game-winning tally.

HEAD COACH SHELLIE ONSTEAD'S TAKE
On team's performance overall:
We're pretty excited right now, and it couldn't be more of a 180 than how we felt last Sunday. Dani had a great performance in goal with eight saves. We didn't quit when we went down one. The offense found their stride. It was good confidence building, and we're excited to play Stanford. All year we've said it's a matter of how you're playing at the end of the year.

GOLDEN BEAR GOALS
39:31 – Nicole Henriksson (assisted by Katrina Carter)
Henriksson says: Katrina (Carter) dribbled inside from the 25, pulled left and dribbled into the left of the circle. She sent a reverse cross and I tipped it forehand past the goalie.
 
63:37 – Keats Iwanaga (penalty stroke)
 
66:48 – Katrina Carter (unassisted)
Carter says: Gabi (Jimenez) was dribbling at the top of the circle, released it on the upper left of the circle, and I took a touch and reversed on the deck to the right sideboard.
 
MAINE'S GOALS
31:49 – Danielle Aviani (unassisted)
45:33 – Danielle Aviani (assisted by Samantha Wagg)
 
NEXT UP
Cal will battle the West Division's No. 1 seed, Stanford, for a spot in the America East Championship game on Saturday at noon in Stockton. The Golden Bears are 0-2 against their divisional foe this season. Find the live stream and live stats for the game at America East Championship Central.