BERKELEY – The California field hockey team renews its rivalry with Stanford this week. The Bears and Cardinal will play a split home and away series with both games being televised on the Pac-12 Network. Cal will host Stanford on Friday for an America East contest that will begin at 4 p.m. PT. On Sunday, the Cardinal will host the Bears for a nonconference clash at noon.
 
GAME 9 INFORMATION
Date/Time: Sept. 27, 2023 – 4 p.m. PT   
Opponent: Stanford Cardinal
Site: Underhill Field (Berkeley)
Live Video: Pac-12 Network
Live Stats: CalBears.com
 
GAME 10 INFORMATION
Date/Time: Oct. 1, 2023 – Noon PT
Opponent: Stanford Cardinal
Site: Varsity Field Hockey Turf (Stanford)
Live Video: Pac-12 Network
Live Stats: CalBears.com
 
  
AT A GLANCE

• The Bears are looking to get back into the win column after a pair of overtime losses last weekend. Cal began the week with a 2-1 loss in overtime at UAlbany. On Sunday, the Bears scored three times in the first quarter but could not hang on to the lead, falling to Vermont 4-3 in overtime. The Bears enter this week with a 3-5 record overall and are 0-2 in the America East.
• Last time Out: After scoring three goals in the first quarter, two from Bente Baekers, the Bears fell to the Vermont 4-3 in overtime in Burlington. It was Cal's second consecutive overtime defeat. Daniella Rhodes scored the Bears' third goal of the game just before the end of the first quarter. Vermont scored once in the first half and twice in the fourth quarter to force overtime.  
• Eight Away From 100: Bente Baekers scored three goals last weekend, giving her 92 for her career. With eight more goals, she will become the 14th player in NCAA history to score 100 or more goals. Baekers, a graduate transfer from Northwestern, scored 86 goals for the Wildcats. She is second on the Bears with six goals this year.
• Penalty Corners: Entering this week, the Bears rank 20th in the nation with 6.75 penalty corners per game.
• Three-Headed Monster: The Bears boast a potent attack, averaging 2.50 goals per game which ranks 24th in the nation. Rhodes, Baekers, and Kitty Baccanello rank in the top 10 in the America East in goals and the top-40 nationally in goals per game. Rhodes leads the way with seven goals, Baekers is second on the team with six, and Baccanello is third with five.
• Getting Defensive: Against UAlbany last Friday, Cal tallied its third defensive save of the year thanks to a heads-up play from Cato Geusgens. The Bears rank 10th in the nation in defensive saves in 2023. 
• With The Assist: Sophie Everett notched her team-leading fourth assist of the season on the goal by Rhodes in the first quarter against Vermont. The four assists ranks tied for third-most in the America East and 32nd in the nation. It is also a career-high for Everett.
• Points, Points, Points: So far in 2023, Cal ranks 25th in the nation in scoring average, averaging 2.41 points per contest. The Bears have put a crooked number on the scoreboard in four of their last five contests.

 
ABOUT THE CARDINAL
Stanford enters Friday's contest with a 2-7 overall record and 0-3 in the America East. The Cardinal is1-3 and at home and 1-4 on the road. The last time out, Stanford fell to UC Davis 2-1 at home last Friday. As a team, the Cardinal is averaging 9.9 shots per game while its opponents are averaging 15.9 shots per contest. Stanford ranks 53rd in the nation at 1.78 goals per game. Gemma Townsend leads the team with three goals. In goal, Daisy Ford has started six of the nine contests for Stanford. She has 37 saves on the year and a 4.04 goals-against average in 296 minutes played. 
 
SERIES HISTORY
Friday will be the 112th meeting between the rivals, with Stanford owning a 56-49 advantage in the series, which also includes six ties. The series dates back to October 13, 1976, when Stanford defeated the Bears 4-1 in Berkeley - the first year Cal's program was officially recognized as a Division I sport. At home, Cal is 30-23-3 against Stanford and 18-28-3 on the road.. Last time out, Cal defeated the Cardinal in a shootout after a scoreless game through two overtimes last season.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears will return to the East Coast for a pair of road contests against UMass-Lowell and Bryant. Cal squares off against UMass-Lowell on Friday at noon PT in Lowell, MA. On Sunday, Cal will travel to Smithfield, RI, to take on Bryant. That game is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. PT. Both games will feature live video and live stats for fans to follow along.
 
STAY POSTED
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