Huskies Top Bears, 12-8

Friday, February 23

Storrs, CT

12:00 PM

California

2-2

Connecticut

2-2

Team	1	2	Final F
California	3	5	8
UConn	5	7	12

Wilkens Made 13 Saves In The Loss To UConn On Friday

Photo by: Brian Foley

2/23/2018 2:17 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Cal Athletics

STORRS, Conn. - Despite jumping out to a 2-0 lead and causing some early turnovers, the California women's lacrosse team fell to Connecticut, 12-8, Friday afternoon on the UConn campus. The Golden Bears fell to 2-2 on the season.

Eliza Christman, Parker Garrett and Kirsten Swanson scored two goals each.

Christman and Nikki Zaccaro got the scoring started with back-to-back goals to give the Bears a 2-0 lead at the 24:48 mark in the opening half. The Bears put up a strong defensive front initially, as well, forcing multiple UConn turnovers to maintain early control of the game.

The Huskies turned things around, though, and rattled off the next five consecutive goals. Marisa Kuberra got one back with just under two minutes left before halftime to cut the deficit, but UConn went into the break up, 5-3.

In the second half, the Huskies maintained control and their lead, but the Bears kept fighting, chipping away at the lead. Swanson netted her second tally of the game to cut the UConn lead to 9-7 with 12:26 left, but that was as close as Cal could get.

Jenny Wilkens made 13 saves in the cage. She also picked up three ground balls, making her three shy of sixth all-time in school history at Cal. Her 13 saves also marked her 16th career double-digit save performance and she now boasts 28 career games out of 37 with at least eight saves.

Cal successfully converted all five of its' free-position shot attempts, including Garrett finishing 2-for-2 from the eight-meter line.

The Bears also caused 10 turnovers, led by three from the reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week Elizabeth Koehler. She also garnered four ground balls along with Kendall Swenson, and three draws to match Christman's total.

The Bears will look to rebound on Sunday with a matchup against UMass-Lowell starting at 9 a.m. PT.

Cal will take over the NCAA Lacrosse Instagram Story for the second time this year on Feb. 25. Follow @NCAALAX on IG all day as the Bears give you an inside look at what a day in the life on a road game is like.