No. 12 Cal Drops 2-1 Match to Washington

by calbears.com
Oct 5, 2014

BERKELEY, Calif. – For the first time this season, No. 12 California was defeated in back-to-back games as Washington handed the Golden Bears a 2-1 loss Sunday at Goldman Field. The Huskies (8-4, 1-2 Pac-12) scored a goal in the final three minutes of regulation to down the Bears (9-3, 1-2 Pac-12).

Overall, Cal outshot Washington 17-9 but recorded just five shots on frame, while four of Washington’s nine were on goal. Nine different Cal players recorded shots on Sunday, but only Taylor Comeau (2), Samantha Witteman (2) and Lorin Hom (1) sent the ball within frame.

“When we create as many opportunities as we create but don’t put the ball on the goal or on the frame it doesn’t matter how many chances you create,” said California head coach Neil McGuire. “You’ve got to execute in front of the goal, and we didn’t. We had 17 shot opportunities and a host of other opportunities to put the ball on frame and didn’t take them. In the Pac-12, you can’t do that.”

Despite Cal’s 9-4 shot advantage in the first half, Washington nabbed the lead 32 minutes in with a rocket from Kate Bennett into the upper left of the Cal goal, making it 1-0 heading into halftime.

The Bears were dominant in offensive possession of the ball in the second half, but once again failed to capitalize on shots near the net as balls sailed high and wide. Cal finally gained some momentum near the 70-minute stretch. With Cal’s backs against the wall, the match became increasingly physical, reaching a climax when Washington’s Allyson Brahs received a yellow card 72 minutes in during a flurry in the box. The Bears earned their sixth penalty kick of the season with the card, and Taylor Comeau successfully converted it for the equalizer.

With less than 20 minutes to go, the Bears continued with an offensive barrage toward the Husky net, racking up four shots with two on frame and two corner kicks over the next 15 minutes. The patient Washington squad made the most of its chances by exploiting an empty net as Cal goalie Emily Boyd charged toward a ball coming from the backfield at the 88th minute. As Boyd tried to stall it, Jaclyn Softli nudged the ball toward the net and past Boyd for the gamewinner.

“We knew it was going to come down to a counterattack moment, and we didn’t defend it well,” McGuire said.

Cal will look to rebound from its two weekend losses in Southern California next weekend, where the Bears will face USC at noon on Friday and UCLA at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 13. Both matches will be televised live on the Pac-12 Networks.

HEAD COACH NEIL MCGUIRE’S TAKE

McGuire says: I have to credit Washington. They deserved it. They came in with a game plan and followed it. Regardless of how many shot opportunities we created, they deserved the victory because they took their chances.

GOLDEN BEAR GOALS

72’ – Taylor Comeau (penalty kick)

WASHINGTON GOALS

32’ – Kate Bennett (assisted by Shannon Simon) – Shot into upper left of net from near the center of the frames

88’ – Jaclyn Softli (assisted by Shannon Simon) – Simon passed from the backfield and Softli hit a roller into the net with Cal GK Emily Boyd outside of the frame

NEWS & NOTES

·         Cal is 9-3 overall and 1-2 in Pac-12 play.

  • Taylor Comeau scored her seventh goal of the season on the penalty kick and leads the team with 19 points.
  • Taylor Comeau is 3-3 when taking a penalty kick.
  • Cal earned its sixth penalty kick of the season and is now 5-6 in PKs.
  • Washington received two yellow cards in the game.
  • Two goals in a game is the most Cal has allowed an opponent to score this season.
  • All three of Cal’s losses have come at home this season.
  • Emily Boyd is now 8-3 in goal this season.

NEXT UP

The Golden Bears hit the road for two games in Southern California, starting with USC on Friday at noon. The SoCal stretch continues on Monday, Oct. 13 at UCLA at 7 p.m. Both matches will be televised live on the Pac-12 Networks.

ON THE BOX SCORE

 SCORING SUMMARY:

  1.  31:34 WASH Bennett, Kate (4) (Simon, Shannon) - Shot from center to upper left of net

  2.  71:44 CAL COMEAU,TAYLOR (7) Penalty kick

  3.  87:41 WASH Softli, Jaclyn (7) (Simon, Shannon) - Goalie out of box, pass from backfield, 10 with roller into net

 Shots: Washington 9, California 17

 Saves: Washington 4 (Kufeld, Megan 4), California 2 (BOYD,EMILY 2)