BERKELEY - The California women's lacrosse team battled tough every minute in Sunday afternoon's clash against Saint Joseph's from Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium, but the Hawks escaped Berkeley with an 18-17 victory. The Golden Bears fell to 1-5 on the year. 

Elizabeth Pellechi and Jena Fritts each scored four goals, while Meredith Haggerty collected seven draw controls. Susie Ropp and Kirsten Swanson also garnered their first career hat tricks in the offensive showcase. Ropp and Fritts paced the Bears with six points each as Ropp tallied three assists and Fritts finished with two. Pellechi also scooped up four draws. 

"It was exciting, fast-paced, a lot of goals were scored," head coach Brooke Eubanks said. "There were a lot of contributors today. We had a number of people put points on the board. It was really a team effort, which is a good transition from what we've been working on. We've been focusing on playing together, and we did that today. We had great ball movement. Our focus was, 'What am I doing off the ball to create opportunities for my teammates?' We definitely were doing that."

Two minutes into the start of the game, Jenny Wilkens had to be taken out due to injury. Freshman Makayla Ward stepped in and made seven saves, along with a team-best three ground balls, in her longest performance of the season. Eubanks said Ward really stepped up today. 

"It's hard when you find out two minutes before the game that you're going to be the starter because the other goalie got hurt," Eubanks said. "That's hard, especially when you're a freshman. She was positive, energetic and really communicating to the defense. She did everything she could to jump in there and make a positive impact."

Cal got on the board first as Ropp assisted a goal from Fritts and then scored her first goal just two minutes into the game. The teams then started trading goals until the Hawks notched three in a row to tie the game at 6 halfway through the opening half. 

Saint Joseph's scored two goals in the final 20 seconds of the first half to take the momentum and a 13-11 lead into the locker room. 

The defenses tightened up more in the second half. While Cal never led in the second half, the Bears tied the game at 16 with just under 11 minutes remaining in regulation. The Hawks then scored twice in the span of five and a half minutes to take a two-goal lead. A late tally by Fritts with 2:37 left on the clock made the final seconds exciting, but the Bears couldn't tie the game and send it into overtime. 

Cal won the draw control battle, 22-14, which Eubanks said was very encouraging. She credited the efforts of Haggerty and Christman in helping the Bears win that advantage.

"It was pure hustle," Eubanks said. "Meredith and Eliza did a really good job of communicating before the ball was set. Eliza put it in the right space and Meredith was coming up big. It's about who wants it more. There's strategy to the draw, obviously, but then it comes down to who is going to do whatever they can to get it, and Meredith definitely got it done today."

Cal also out shot Saint Joseph's, 36-34, and secured 14 ground balls to the Hawks' 12. 

The Bears continue their five-game homestand on Saturday, March 11, against William & Mary at noon from Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium.