May 4, 2002

BERKELEY, Calif. - The California women's lacrosse team (11-6, 6-3) recorded their second most goals of the season in advancing to the Mountain Pacific Lacrosse League (MPLL) Finals with their 15-11 win over Denver (6-10, 4-6) this afternoon at Memorial Stadium. In what was a balanced scoring attack for Cal, sophomore midfielder Julianne Wu and senior attacker Halsey Monger each paced the Bears with three goals and an assist apiece.

The first half was one of intense action - a half that saw three lead changes, four ties and 18 total goals. Sophomore attacker Emily Edwards got the scoring started just 43 seconds into the game, on her 37th goal of the year. Pioneer midfielder Melissa Holecheck gave Denver one of four first half ties, 1-1, 20 seconds later on a nice assist from junior Mariana Spry. Both teams traded goals for the next 10 minutes until Cal midfielder Jessie Liu netted her second goal of the season at the 19:09 mark, tying the game at four apiece. With 13:25 remaining in the first half, the score was tied yet again at 6-6 until Denver attacker Tanya Fuchs scored the first of three straight Pioneer goals that would ultimately give Denver the 9-6 lead with 5:34 left to play. But there was no quit in the Bears as senior Laura Kado and Wu each notched a goal in the last five minutes before Monger would net her first goal of the match with :01 second remaining ... propelling the Bears into a 9-9 halftime score.

Denver attacker Patience Baldwin scored her fourth goal of the day for the Pioneers, 3:37 into the second stanza to give the Pioneers their fourth lead of the game. Monger answered back two minutes later with her second of three goals for the Bears, only to be answered right back on Mariana Spry's second goal of the day. It seemed as if the back-and-forth-scoring barrage would last the entire game, with the team who had the last possession winning it. But that just wasn't the case. Tied at 11-11 with 20:43 to play, the Pioneers seemed to be tiring. Two of their key defenders (senior Megan Bader & freshman Beth Cordova) were ejected on red cards and the Bears defensive pressure was tightening. Cal goalkeeper Eden Coelho started the game a little shaky but rebounded in the second half with 10 of her 15 saves and an impressive save on Baldwin's free position attempt as time expired. Cal's offense went on to score four unanswered goals in the game's final 23:16 to win the match, 15-11, advancing them to the final match tomorrow afternoon against the winner of Stanford and Saint Mary's.

"We were able to turn it around in the second half," said head coach Jill Malko. "Our effort and intensity improved, but more importantly we were able to start controlling the draws. Our defense stopped conceding the midfield and we shut down their attack. Denver just wasn't as effective on the fast break as they were in their set offense in the first half."

Cal will face Stanford, who were 14-11 winners over Saint Mary's - today's other semifinal match, tomorrow afternoon, May 5 at 2:00 p.m. inside Memorial Stadium. Denver will play the third-place match tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. against Saint Mary's.

DIVISION I WOMEN'S LACROSSE BOX SCORE:

             1      2       F
Denver       9      2       11
California   9      6       15

GOALS/ASSISTS: Cal - Julianne Wu (3-1), Halsey Monger (3-1), Colleen O'Mara (2-1), Emily Edwards (2-1), Sarah Wheatley (2-0), Carley Preble (0-2), Kelley Queisser (1-0), Laura Kado (1-0), Jessie Liu (1-0). Denver - Patience Baldwin (4-1), Melissa Holecheck (3-0), Mariana Spry (2-1), Tanya Fuchs (1-0), Courtnay Gerl (1-0), Dominique Cook (0-2).

GOALKEEPING: Cal - Eden Coelho (60 minutes, 15 saves, 11 goals). Denver - Sarah Hazard (60 minutes, 15 goals).

SHOTS: DEN 35 , UC 37; GROUNDBALLS: DEN 25, UC 16; FOULS: DEN 24, UC 10; TURNOVERS: DEN 11, UC 13; CAUSED TURNOVERS: DEN 11, UC 15; DRAW CONTROLS: DEN 15, UC 14.