Black Bears Beat Golden Bears, 4-1

ORONO, ME - Facing a potent offense, the California field hockey team fell to No. 25 Maine, 4-1, Friday afternoon on the Maine campus. The Black Bears tallied 18 shots, nine on goal against the Golden Bears (6-4, 2-1)

Friday's game was also the Bears' fifth contest against a ranked opponent. 

"I knew they were a good team, we were both at the top of the conference," said the Donna Fong Director of Field Hockey Shellie Onstead. "I was particularly concerned with their attack, but I thought we had a good gameplan. We started out pretty solid. We had most of the possession in the first seven-eight minutes. But when they scored first, we went away from the gameplan. We got tight. We started playing directly to goal, and all that did was create a lot of turnovers, which was beneficial to them."

Maddie Cleat scored Cal's lone goal in the third quarter. Jane Onners earned an assist on the score. It was Cleat's second goal of the season and Onners' first assist of the campaign. 

"I drew up the corner for her before the game, and I let her know I was going to call this play because I thought it had a good possibility of leading to a goal," Onstead said. "The stop was off, and it was a little bit of a broken play, but we got the ball in the right spot, and she had her stick where it needed to be to get the tip."

A scoreless first quarter found the Bears fending off a strong offensive attack by Maine. The Bears faced six shots and five corners by Maine in the opening quarter. 

In the opening minutes of the second quarter, the Black Bears finally found the back of the cage with the first goal of the match. The Black Bears tallied their second goal in the final minute of the first half to go up, 2-0, at the break. 

Maine added its third goal early in the third quarter. Cleat ended the shutout with her goal later in the third quarter, but Maine answered with its fourth goal in the final period to reclaim control of the game. 

Cleat paced the Bears with two shots on goal, while Claire Hind also registered one. Cato Knipping tallied five saves in goal. 

Cal faces Vermont on Sunday at 9 am PT before heading home. 

A full recap will follow later.