BERKELEY - California field hockey returns to Berkeley this weekend pitted against the second of seven consecutive ranked opponents. The Golden Bears host No. 7 Michigan on Sunday, Sept. 8, at noon. 

The last time Cal beat a ranked team was Oct. 15, 2017, a 4-2 win over No. 14 Stanford.
 
Cal opened the 2019 campaign with a 5-1 victory over Quinnipiac. Maddie Cleat scored twice for the Bears, including an impressive tally when she hauled in a long pass, juggled the ball on her stick, maintained possession and slipped a shot past the keeper. The Bears fell to No. 15 Northwestern two days later, 3-0. Natalie Dalton made eight saves, keeping Cal in the contest. Eleven Bears recorded shots in last week's contests.

Bears Strong In Season Opener
• In the season opening 5-1 victory over Quinnipiac, Megan Connors scored the first goal of her collegiate career in the first game of her collegiate career, which also just happened to be California's first goal of the 2019 season. Cal got goals from Connors, Lindsay Mathison, Makaela Hoang and two from Maddie Cleat. The Bears brought the pressure early and often, garnering 29 shots to eight for the Bobcats, including a 13-2 advantage in the first quarter. The Bears improved to 15-10 in season openers with Onstead at the helm, and 9-7 in openers in the last 16 years. 

Bears All-Time Vs. Michigan
• Cal is 2-6-1 all-time against Michigan. The last time these teams met was in 2016, a 5-0 win for the Wolverines who were ranked No. 10 at the time.   

Dalton Racks Up Saves
• Cal goalie Natalie Dalton made a combined 14 saves last week, playing all 60 minutes in both games. The junior collected six stops vs. Quinnipiac, allowing just one goal, and made eight saves vs. the 15th-ranked Wildcats. Despite suferring defeat, her efforts kept the Bears within striking distance against Northwestern. With her average of 7.00 saves per game, Dalton ranks tied for 14th in the NCAA rankings in that category.     

Bears In The Record Books
• Megan Rodgers ranks eighth in career goals at Cal with 30, three shy of seventh. She is also three points shy of cracking the top-10 in career points in school history. 
Femke Delissen is two assists shy of the school's career top-10 list in that category. Delissen recorded her first assist of the 2019 season vs. Quinnipiac in the season opener. 

Competitive Schedule
• Beginning with the second game of the year against No. 15 Northwestern, Cal is navigating through a stretch of playing seven consecutive ranked opponents in the NFHCA's preseason Top-25 poll with No. 7 Michigan up next this week. On the NFHCA's preseason poll, Cal will face a total of nine ranked foes, including three in Berkeley (Michigan, No. 18 Syracuse and No. 21 Stanford).   

Anthem Buddies
• Any Cal fans bringing their kids to Sunday's game against Michigan have the opportunity to let them walk out with the players for the national anthem and player intros. The kids must be in eighth grade or younger. If interested, contact SF Youth Field Hockey - https://www.sfyouthfieldhockey.com/ for more info. 

Godfrid Headed To Cal Hall Of Fame
• Valentina Godfrid (2003-06), a first-team All-American who is the program's all-time leading scorer, has been elected into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame, part of the 34th class of inductees that will be enshrined the weekend of Nov. 8-9. Godfrid was a three-time NorPac Conference Player of the Year, as well as the league's Offensive Player of the Year her junior season. She led Cal to four consecutive conference titles and to three NCAA Tournament berths. Information on tickets to the HOF banquet can be found at bigcsociety.org.

Bears Tabbed Second In AE West
• America East coaches predicted a second-place finish in the West Division for the Bears, according to the league's preseason poll. It marked the Golden Bears' best standing in the preseason poll in four years. Now a three-team division in the West, Stanford is the favorite to win the West once again, while Albany was picked to win the East. The Cardinal sits atop the West Division with four points and two first-place votes, followed by the Bears in second with three points and one first-place vote. UC Davis rounds out the division in third. In 2018, Cal finished 2-4 in conference play with both wins coming against the Aggies.

Red, White, Blue & Gold
• In addition to head coach Shellie Onstead, associate head coach Austin Pile and assistant coach Malachi Mahan 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. Megan Rodgers (U21), Katrina Carter (U.S. Development Squad), Brynn Zorilla (U19, U21) and Megan Conners (U19) have all played for U.S. National teams. 

Next Up
• Cal heads to Iowa for a couple matchups against ranked foes. First, the Bears will play No. 8 Iowa on Friday, Sept. 13, at 1 pm PT, followed by No. 3 Duke on Saturday, Sept. 14 at noon.

How To Follow
• All non-televised Cal home games will be streamed for free online at calbea.rs/WatchCalFH. Live stats are available via the CalBears.com schedule page, and follow @CalFieldHockey on Instagram and Twitter, plus Facebook.com/CalFH for a behind-the-scenes look at gameday and more.