Berkeley, Calif. - UC Davis paired it's America East-best defense with a quick strike offense but it was an overtime goal from Cal that downed the Aggies 3-2 loss in Berkeley on Friday night.
The Aggies moved to 6-6 and 0-1 on the season while Cal improved to 7-8 and 1-1 in the America East West Division.
A strong defensive team all season, goalkeeper Chelsea Bigelow was tested early with two saves in the opening two minutes of the game. Bigelow was rarely called upon as the Aggies' back line of Farah Farjood, Sara Janetzky and Izzy Porco intercepted most Cal chances before they could make their way into the circle.
"I thought our defense played really together," Farjood said afterwards. "I think in general, all across the field we played together. That's what UC Davis field hockey is. It's not just our defense or our midfield or our attack. We in general, play together and that's what makes us get the ball before Chelsea (Bigelow) because we want to make those saves before she has to."
Friday marked the first time since Sept. 10 the Aggies have scored two goals or more and both came in similar, quick strike fashion against the Bears.
After Cal scored at the 1:46 mark of the second period, it took less than two minutes for Audrey Matthew to score unassisted from the left side for her first goal of the season and 1-1 score at the half.
Again scoring early in a period, Cal went ahead 2-1 3:03 into the third and this time it was Catherine Potente running free up the middle of the field and tying the score at two just 24 seconds later.
"I think when it came down to it, we knew that we had to counter," senior Lauren Gengarella said. "We knew that after building the attack up front, we had numbers up in that situation multiple times. Winning it in our midfield is probably the best thing we could do because our counter attack was fast and playing high upfield."
Gengarella in particular had plenty of room to run down the near side of the field and was a frequent sight leading attacks throughout the second half.
"We've been working on our attack and we've been trying to increase the amount that our midfield is overlapping with us," Gengarella explained. "For us to be able to build the attack and finish is just what we've been looking for all season."
Holding serve with the Bears through the fourth quarter, the Aggies looked like the aggressors at the start of overtime but it was the Bears' Megan Rodgers who wound up with the game winner following a free hit decision by the referees and a scramble in front of the goal.
Friday was the third overtime game the Aggies have played this season.
With just two playoff spots up for grabs in the three-team America East West Division, Friday's loss only served as more motivation for an Aggie team full of third and fourth year players hungry for the postseason.
"This is really motivating," Farjood said. "We're really excited to get to work tomorrow and just keep this momentum. We have the potential to finish a game out and that's what we're going to work on."
Following Friday's game, the Aggies will host a 10-year celebration of the first year of Division I field hockey at UC Davis on Saturday evening. The Aggies will return to action on Sunday against No. 16 Stanford when this year's five seniors will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
Game time for Sunday is set for noon with seniors being recognized approximately 15 minutes beforehand.
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, and among the top 10 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.
AGGIE EVO
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Named after the former physical education instructor, coach and Dean of Women who founded women's sports on the campus 25 years before the passage of Title IX, the Marya Welch Initiative for Women's Athletics provides comprehensive support for UC Davis' 16 women's athletics programs. Through the support of the Marya Welch Initiative and its group members, student-athletes are provided the best possible opportunity to succeed inside the classroom, and in competition, through special project gifts and by increasing visibility and participation at women's events throughout the year. All gifts to the Marya Welch Initiative are matched 1:1, doubling the impact on our women's programs. Visit https://give.ucdavis.edu/ATHG/324041 for more information.
