Feb. 20, 2003

Moraga, Calif. - Freshmen Leanne Zilioli and Kally Perkins both tallied their first collegiate goals of their careers, but it was not enough as the Saint Mary's Gaels defeated the Bears, 7-5, this afternoon Feb. 20 at Saint Mary's Stadium in Moraga. The Gaels handed Cal its first loss of the season and its first ever loss to Saint Mary's in seven career meetings.

Since becoming a Division I program in 2000, the win over Cal gives the Gaels their first victory over the Bears in seven chances, improving to 1-6 all-time against Cal. With the win SMC improves to 1-0 on the season while Cal falls to 0-1.

Although the Gaels' Collette Spencer notched her first hat trick of the season to lead the SMC charge offensively, the story of the game was Saint Mary's senior goalkeeper Megan Ceccotti. Ceccotti, who improves to 1-0 in goal this season, faced 29 shots from the Bears. Of the 19 shots on goal from Cal, Ceccotti recorded 14 saves and tallied a game-high 12 ground balls.

Spencer scored the first goal of the contest just 5:43 in the game. Lauren Riggers added another goal for the Gaels just 22 seconds later to give SMC a 2-0 lead less than six minutes into the game. Cal's Zilioli answered a the 9:05 mark, before Saint Mary's scored four straight goals, including two by Spencer, to open a 6-1 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the first half. Cal's Molly Brady added two goals in the final five minutes of the half to cut the deficit to 6-3 at the intermission.

The Bears cut the lead to 6-4, 11 minutes into the second half, when Perkins scored her only goal of the game. Freshman Molly Wagner added the seventh goal for Saint Mary's at the 54:23 mark, giving the Gaels a three goal cushion with five minutes to play. Brady added her third goal of the game on a free possession shot with four seconds remaining for Cal's fifth and final goal.

Senior co-captain Eden Coelho took the loss in net, while stopping nine shots. The Gaels took 20 shots total in the game with 16 shots on goal.

Cal will return to action on Sunday, February 23 when it hosts New Hampshire at 1:00 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

Score by period       1 2 Tot
California                  3 2 - 5
Saint Mary's (CA)     6 1 - 7

California SCORING: GOALS: Molly Brady 3; Kally Perkins 1; Leanne
Zilioli 1. ASSISTS: Colleen O'Mara 1.

Saint Mary's (CA) SCORING: GOALS: Colette Spencer 3; Lauren Riggers 1;
Stephanie French 1; Molly Wagner 1; Alison High 1. ASSISTS: Thera Luce
2.