BERKELEY – The California field hockey team opens America East play this weekend with road contests at UAlbany and Vermont on Friday and Sunday. Friday's match against the Great Danes is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. PT with Sunday's match slated to start at 9 a.m. PT. Both matches will feature live stats and video that can be accessed at CalBears.com.
 
 
GAME 7 INFORMATION
Date/Time: Sept. 22, 2023 – 11 a.m. PT   
Opponent: UAlbany Great Danes
Site: Hofstra Alumni Turf (Albany, New York)
Live Video: AE.tv
Live Stats: CalBears.com
 
GAME 8 INFORMATION
Date/Time: Sept. 24, 2023 – 9 a.m. PT   
Opponent: Vermont Great Danes
Site: Moulton Winder Field (Burlington, Vermont)
Live Video: AE.tv
Live Stats: CalBears.com
 
 
 
AT A GLANCE

• The Golden Bears are riding a three-match winning streak after defeating LIU and Stonehill 2-1 and 9-1 two weeks ago at Hempstead, New York. Cal begins America East play with a 3-3 overall record and is playing its first true road games this weekend.
• Last time Out: The Bears had an offensive explosion two weeks ago when they scored nine goals against Stonehill. The 9-1 win was the largest win by the Bears since they defeated Pacific 10-0 on Sept. 3, 2011. Daniella Rhodes scored four times, her fourth career game with at least three goals.
• We Are Going Streaking: The Bears' current three-game winning streak comes off the heels of three straight losses to begin the season. Cal's current winning streak is the longest since the Bears won three in a row between Oct. 10-22 in 2021 with wins over Vermont, UC Davis, and Stanford. The last time Cal won four in a row came in 2017, when Cal won six straight from Sept. 8-29.
• OPOW: After her four goal explosion against Stonehill, Rhodes was named the America East Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 12. It was the sixth career weekly honor for Rhodes, a transfer from Liberty, and her first as a Golden Bear. She finished that week with 10 points, scoring five goals. She had nine shots – eight on goal – for an .899 shots-on-goal percentage.
• Potent Attack: Cal currently ranks 11th in the nation and third in the America East in points per game, averaging 8.00 per contest. The Bears are 17th in the nation in scoring average at 2.59 goals per contest.
• Sharing Is Caring: Cal ranks eighth in the nation in assists per game and is tops in the conference. Cal's trio of Bente Baekers, Sophie Everett, and Cato Geusgens are all tied for 31st in the nation, averaging 0.50 assists per game.
• Penalty Corners: Cal continues to excel at earning penalty corners this year. The Bears tallied nine more corners two weeks ago against Stonehill. For the year, they average 8.50 penalty corners per game, which ranks ninth in the nation and second in the America East.

 
ABOUT THE GREAT DANES
UAlbany enters this week with a 4-3 record and is 2-2 at Alumni Turf. Last time out, a 4-3 loss in shootouts at the hands of Drexel snapped a three-game winning streak. As a team, UAlbany averages 2.86 goals per game and 15 shots per game. Leading the team in goals and points is junior midfielder Alison Smisdom. Her eight goals are third most in the conference, while her 19 points are tied for second most in the AE. UAlbany has used two goalies this season, with Lara Behn leading the team with 20 saves, a 1.20 goals-against average, and a 2-0 record.   
 
SERIES HISTORY
Friday will be the fifth meeting between the two teams with the series tied 2-2. UAlbany has won the last two contests and is 2-1 against the Bears in Albany. The series dates back to 2008, when Cal defeated its future conference opponent 3-2 in Berkeley on Sept. 13. Last time out, the Great Danes defeated the Bears 5-1 at Alumni Turn on Sept. 23, 2022.
 
ABOUT THE CATAMOUNTS
Vermont will open the week taking on New Hampshire at home Friday. The Catamounts enter this week with a 3-4 record overall and are 2-3 at home this season. Last time out, Vermont defeated Merrimack 4-0 on the road to snap a three-game losing streak. As a team, the Catamounts have scored 17 goals on the season, averaging 2.43 goals per contest. They have taken 72 shots, averaging 10.3 shots a game. Sophie Lefranc leads the team with four goals and 11 points. Sophomore keeper Lauren Halenkamp is 2-4 on the year with a 3.96 goals-against average.    
 
SERIES HISTORY
Sunday will be the sixth time the Bears and Catamounts have tangled. Cal owns a 3-2 all-time advantage in the series. Last time out, Vermont defeated the Bears 4-3 in overtime at Moulton Winder Field. In Burlington, Vermont, Cal is 2-1 with two wins in 2021.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears will play back-to-back contests against rival Stanford. The first meeting will take place on Friday, Sept. 29, at Underhill Field. Friday's AE match is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. On Sunday, the two teams will head to Stanford, for a non-conference clash at Varsity Field Hockey Turf. Both contests will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
 
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