Cal vs. Kent State

Friday, Sept. 2 | 6 PM | Underhill Field | Berkeley, Calif.
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Cal vs. No. 10 Michigan

Sunday, Sept. 4 | 12 PM | Underhill Field | Berkeley, Calif.
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BERKELEY -- California's inaugural homestand continues this weekend when the Golden Bears host two high-powered nonconference opponents in Kent State and 10th-ranked Michigan at the brand new Underhill Field.

The weekend kicks off with the Golden Flashes on Friday at 6 p.m. At 2-0, Kent State is off to its best start since 1995. Cal wraps up its three-game season-opening homestand against No. 10 Michigan in a Sunday matinee at noon. Admission is free, and parking as available in the Underhill Parking Structure directly underneath the field. 

Live stats will be available on CalBears.com, and follow @CalFieldHockey on Instagram and Facebook.com/CalFH for a behind-the-scenes look at gameday and more.

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FAST FACTS

• Two of Cal's top three goal scorers from last season picked up right where they left off last season with Melina Moore and Janaye Sakkas notching goals in the season opener against Northeastern.

• Cal's last win over a Top 10 opponent came last season against No. 6 Stanford on Sept. 18. The Bears upset the Cardinal, 2-1, with a golden goal in overtime for their first win over Stanford since 2011.

• The Bears last met a Top 10 opponent on Sept. 27, 2015, when they fell to top-ranked UConn in Connecticut, 10-0.

• Cal lost its season opener for the second consecutive year. The Bears are 13-9 in season openers with head coach Shellie Onstead at the helm.

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SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHES
• Last Meeting: L, 5-2, on Oct. 24, 2015
• Series: Teams are tied, 2-2
• Streak: Cal won two meetings in a row before dropping a game to the Golden Flashes last season.
• At 2-0, Kent State is off to its best start since 1995.
• The Golden Flashes are outscoring opponents 7-2 in 2016.
• Goalkeeper Andrea Rinehart is the MAC Defensive Player of the Week after allowing just two goals with seven saves in the first weekend of competition.
• Krysti Lober and Alison Harmatz each logged two goals in opening weekend. Helen Harper, Laila Richter and Shannon Talbot have also scored for the squad.

SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
• Last Meeting: W, 3-2 (OT), on Sept. 25, 2008
• Series: Michigan leads, 5-2
• Streak: Though Michigan won the first five contests of the all-time series, Cal has taken wins in the last two meetings (2007, 2008)
• Michigan is coming off a 1-0 win against No. 1 North Carolina and a 2-0 loss to No. 7 Wake Forest in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge to open 2016.
• Goalie Sam Swenson is this week's Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week with seven saves and a shutout over top-ranked UNC.
• Emma Way is the lone Wolverine to score a goal in 2016. 

ONSTEAD ON THE WEEK AHEAD
On opening weekend and the week ahead:
"Even though Northeastern was a loss, it was a really good starting point. Both our regulation play and our overtime play was really encouraging. We're looking forward to this weekend of Blue & Gold opponents and continuing to build our fanbase because the product we're putting out is very exciting."

On team's adjustments this week:
"We worked on giving up fewer corners, tackling and decision-making by the defense inside the 25. We look forward to unveiling our offensive corner."

NO SIGNS OF SLUMP
Sophomores Melina Moore and Janaye Sakkas are showing no signs of a second-year slump so far. Both were among Cal's top three point-getters in 2015, and the trend has continued with each Bear scoring a goal in the opening weekend of competition. Moore also added an assist to her first weekend totals.

NEW IN THE BLUE & GOLD
Five student-athletes made their collegiate debut in opening weekend, including:
• Lindsay Mathison (starter)
• Katrina Carter (starter, redshirted in 2015)
• Femke Delissen (starter)
• Kyra Kent (sub)
• Gabi Jimenez (sub)

NEXT UP
Cal's first road trip of the season takes the Golden Bears to the Old Line State, where they'll play in Maryland's Terrapin Invitational. The tournament starts with Cal vs. Maryland on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 8 a.m. PT. Cal will move on to play either American or Fairfield on Sunday, Sept. 11.

COACHES PREDICT THIRD-PLACE FINISH FOR BEARS
The coaches of the America East have predicted a third-place finish for the Golden Bears in the America East, tied with UC Davis. Stanford received three first-place votes to be named the favorite in the West, followed by Pacific with one first-place vote. Albany was picked to win the East Division.

RETURNING STARS 
A number of Cal's standouts last season make their return in the lineup, including its top-three scorers. Leading scorer and America East Rookie of the Year Melina Moore (10 goals, three assists, 23 points in 2015). Sophomore teammate Janaye Sakkas was second among the Bears with seven goals, two assists and 16 points, while senior Sydney Earle scored five goals and ranked second in assists with four. Cal will be also look to returning starters Monica Marrazzo, Keats Iwanaga and Mara Gutierrez for help in the mid and backfield. Kori Griswold will once again anchor the Cal defense in the cage after amassing 108 saves with a 2.36 goals against average last season.

INTERNATIONAL INFLUX
While field hockey remains a growing sport in the United States, it is well-known internationally, and the
Bears are receiving the benefits of its international appeal. Two members of Cal's freshman class from
abroad -- Lindsay Mathison (Gladstone, Australia) and Femke Delissen (Wassenaar, Netherlands) -- and though rookie Sterre van Ede calls Colorado home, she was born in Randburg, South Africa.

SUCCESSFUL FIRST SEASON IN AMERICA EAST
Cal spent 2015 transitioning into a new, highly competitive conference -- the America East -- and found success in its first year. Last season, the Bears claimed seven yearly honors on top of seven weekly awards and a dozen All-Academic nods. Melina Moore headlined Cal's big winners after taking the America East Rookie of the Year crown. In addition to Rookie of the Year, Moore was also named to the America East All-Conference Second Team and the All-Rookie Team. Cal graduate Clara Goni and Marie Lanckneus, who is no longer with the team, joined Moore on the All-Conference squad as first team selections, and Lanckneus was also an All-Rookie honoree. Kori Griswold picked up All-Academic honors.