Cal vs. No. 5 Syracuse

Friday, Aug. 25 | 2 PM PT | Underhill Field | Berkeley, Calif.
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Cal vs. Michigan State

Monday, Aug. 28 | 3 PM PT | Underhill Field | Berkeley, Calif.
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With the return of its top three leading scorers, nine new faces and a nearly complete facility, California opens 2017 in strong position to challenge its nonconference foes in  opening weekend. The Golden Bears play host to fifth-ranked Syracuse to open the season, followed by a Monday matchup with Michigan State. The action begins with the Orange on Friday at 2 p.m., followed by the showdown with Spartans on Monday at 3 p.m. Both games will be played at Underhill Field, where admission is free and parking is available directly below the field.

Cal returns all three of its leading scorers from last season in Melina Moore (6 goals, 3 assists, 15 points), Janaye Sakkas (6 goals, 12 points) and Katrina Carter (4 goals, 3 assists, 11 points). The Bears also added a talented nine-member freshman class that includes five international standouts. Also new at Underhill Field this year is a permanent raised seating structure for fans, team medical and meeting room space and a new press area.

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

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HEAD COACH SHELLIE ONSTEAD'S TAKE

On weekend: Home openers are special. You get a fresh start every year, but this one feels extra special as our facility comes closer to completion. I hope to have a great student fanbase for these 
afternoon matchups.

On Syracuse matchup: Syracuse is a great place to start. We are very excited about the possibilities.

On Michigan State matchup: We like to have the Big 10 on our schedule as much as possible. Michigan State is the first of 3 this year and another great opponent.

NEED TO KNOW

• The Bears are 13-9 in season openers with head coach Shellie Onstead at the helm.

• Over the past 13 seasons, the Bears are 7-6 in season openers.

• Cal returns all three of its leading scorers from last season.

• Five of Cal's 10 players who scored goals last season are back in the lineup for 2017.

• The Bears return all four players recognized on America East All-Conference squads for their athletic performances last season: Femke Delissen (All-Rookie), Katrina Carter (All-Rookie), Mara Gutierrez (West Division All-Conference) and Janaye Sakkas (West Division All-Conference).
 

SCOUTING THE ORANGE

• Last Meeting: W, 3-1 on Sept. 5, 2005
• Series: Syracuse leads, 2-1
• Streak: This is the first time in 12 seasons that Cal is facing off against Syracuse. 
• 'Cuse was tabbed to tie for second in the ACC Preseason Poll (alongside Duke), according to the league's seven coaches.
• All-Americans Laura Hurff and Roos Weers were named to the Preseason All-ACC team. Hurff scored 16 points last season, while Weers ranks 16th in career goals among Syracuse record-holders with 25 in her career.
• Syracuse enters the match ranked fifth, and has been ranked in 100 consecutive NFHCA polls, dating back to 2008.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS

• Last Meeting: W, 2-1 in OT on Aug. 30, 2013
• Series: Cal leads, 4-3-1
• Streak: The Golden Bears have won their last two contests against the Spartans.
• Michigan State finished 2016 at 8-12 overall.
• The Spartans return their leading goal scorer, Kendal Anderson. She collected 14 goals alongside eight assists to earn 36 points on the season.
• Anderson was named to the Big Ten's 2017 Players to Watch List.
• Sophie Macadre scored seven goals and notched eight assists last season and was also tabbed a Player to Watch.
• Michigan State will face Pacific and UC Davis prior to its meeting with Cal on Monday.

FROSH FACES

Cal's nine-member freshman class includes five international standouts, as well as Bay Area products Morgan Peterson, Sara Deck and Callie Rose Goodman. Rookie Megan Rodgers spent her summer playing with the USA FIeld Hockey U-19 squad. 

BEARS TABBED THIRD IN AE WEST

For the second consecutive season, the coaches of the America East have predicted a third-place finish for the Golden Bears (5 points) in the America East, just one point behind second-place Pacific (6 points). Stanford received three first-place votes to be named the favorite in the West, while UC Davis was tabbed last. In the East Division, Maine was predicted as the league's champion.

RED, WHITE, BLUE & GOLD

In addition to head coach Shellie Onstead and both assistant coaches Malachi Mahan and Austin Pile holding national team playing or coaching experience, the Golden Bears have a long pipeline of individuals associated with Cal field hockey playing or working with Team USA. This year, both Katrina Carter (U-21) and Megan Rodgers (U-19) played with Team USA's development squads.

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. Among Cal's 24-woman roster, seven student-athletes hail from a country outside of the United States: Lindsay Mathison (Australia), Femke Delissen (Netherlands), Maddie Cleat (Scotland), Victoria Struys (Belgium), Yvie Lock (UK), Valen Garraffo (Argentina) and Natalie Dalton (Canada). In addition, Sterre van Ede was born in South Africa, Struys has double nationality with Belgium/France and Dalton lived in Ireland as a child.

NEXT UP

The Bears remain at Underhill Field for the second week in a row, hosting UMass on Friday, Sept. 1 at 3 p.m. and Iowa on Sunday, Sept. 3 at noon.