Bears Edged By Bruins

BERKELEY - California fell 3-1 after a tough battle against fourth-ranked UCLA on Friday afternoon at Witter Rugby Field. Keely Roy struck a fierce shot in the 76th minute to put the Golden Bears on the board and denied the Bruins a chance for an eighth shutout. 

The Bruins brought the heat early with a goal scored in the third minute by Marley Canales off of a corner-kick play. The Bears' attack attempted to equalize by taking the next three shots of the game, including two powerful blasts from Abena Aidoo. In the 11th minute, Paige Metayer tackled the ball away from a Bruin defender while in the attacking third and hit a clean shot that was saved by Lauren Bryzkcy. 

UCLA returned its pace in the attack in the 17th minute when Reilynn Turner slid a quick ball towards Angelina Anderson to give the Cal goalkeeper her first save of the afternoon. Turner took the next four shots of the game while Anderson collected two additional saves. In the 40th minute, Anderson broke up a Bruins attack by blocking a cross and returning possession to Cal. The Bruins swept the ball back from Cal in the same minute and Mia Fishel kicked a goal in before Anderson could return to her line. The Bears trailed 2-0 at the half. 

UCLA found the ball first at the start of the second half when Sunshine Fontes fired a shot that Anderson punched behind the goalline to earn the Bruins a corner. In the 49th minute, Cal's Julia Curtis sent a cross towards Natalie Hueston at the top of the box, but UCLA goalie Lauren Bryzkcy got the save. The Bruins took a three goal lead in the 71st minute when Reilyn Turner scored off an assist from Aislinn Crowder. 

The Bears finally found themselves on the board in the 76th minute when Keely Roy pounced a shot off a Bruin defender that flew past the UCLA keeper and into the back of the net. The solo goal marked Roy's third goal of the season to tie her with Emma Westin as the Bears' leading scorer this season. 

Cal attempted three more shots before the end of regulation, but the Bears could not find the edge against the No. 4 team in the country. The Bears held the Bruins to just 13 shots, only the fifth team to hold UCLA below its 14-shot average. Anderson made six total saves to bring her season total to 57.

The Bears look to rebound on Sunday when they face the No. 23 Trojans at 1:45 p.m. on Witter Rugby Field. 

For more information and updates throughout the year, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWSoc), Instagram (@CalWSoc), and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalWSoc).