Oct. 20, 2006

Box Score

SEATTLE, Wash. - Senior Katie Ratican and freshman Kelly Menachof scored two goals apiece to propel No. 18 California to a 4-1 victory over Washington Friday night at Husky Soccer Stadium.

"Great character for our team to come back from a couple of tough weekends that we had and respond with a win, especially when we went down 1-0 early on," said Cal head coach Kevin Boyd, who was coaching his 200th-career game for the Bears. "Kelly Menachof had a breakout game and started showing she's a player to be reckoned with. Katie Ratican put in a couple of terrific goals. It was just a matter of getting chances and finding a way to stick them away."

The Golden Bears improved to 8-3-4 overall (1-2-2 Pac-10) with their first Pac-10 win of the season and first-ever triumph over Washington in Seattle. The Huskies dropped to 6-9 (1-3 Pac-10).

After Melissa Beal gave Washington a 1-0 lead with a 16-yard shot off the left post in the fifth minute, Cal took control of the game.

Menachof, who earned her second straight start in the midfield, netted her first goal of the night when she knocked in the rebound of her own shot in the ninth minute.

Ratican, a forward, sent the Bears into the locker room ahead, 2-1, as she converted a 25-yard looping free kick that went off the wall and under the crossbar. The goal would hold up to be Ratican's team-leading third game winner of the year.

In the 72nd minute, Ratican extended Cal's lead to 3-1 with a 30-yard shot from the left side of the field into the upper-right corner of the goal. Junior midfielder Caitlin Hannegan was credited with an assist on the play. Ratican leads the team in points and goals with career highs of 13 and five, respectively.

Menachof added an insurance goal - her third of the season -- for the Bears in the 77th minute by converting a 12-yard flick after a dribbling run.

Cal held a 13-11 shot advantage for the game, with Ratican leading the Bears with five attempts. Ratican also tallied three of Cal's seven shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper Anna Key saved Washington's only other shot on goal.

"What's great is that we put a couple of backs on the backline that don't play there and stepped it up defensively," Boyd said. " (Midfielder) Caroline Lea played right back, and (Forward) Julia Schnugg played left back. Liv (Mazura) and (Courtney) Hooker were in the middle. Brianna Bak started the game but realized she wasn't 100 percent, and Nkechi (Kanu) wasn't able to play either. Once again, we had a make-shift backline. After we gave up the goal, we had to make those changes, and that group of four found a way to shut them down the rest of the way, and the rest of our team stepped it up and got some chances and stuck the ball away. It was huge for our whole squad, and it was done by the team."

Cal returns to action at Washington State Sunday at noon looking for their first sweep over the Huskies and Cougars since the 1999 series in Berkeley.

Cal Women's Soccer Results
#18 California	2	2	--	4
Washington	1	0	--	1

Scoring Summary
UW	Melissa Beal (Jenna Robison)	4:24
Cal	Kelly Menachof		8:45
Cal	Katie Ratican		23:22
Cal	Katie Ratican (Caitlin Hannegan)	71:26
Cal	Kelly Menachof		76:36

Shots: Cal 13 (Katie Ratican 5), UW 11 (four players with 2).
Shots on Goal: Cal 7 (Katie Ratican 3), UW 2 (Melissa Beal 2).
Saves: Cal 1 (Anna Key 1), UW 3 (Kelsey Rasmussen 3).
Corner Kicks: Cal 3, UW 0.
Fouls: Cal 17, UW 13.
Offsides: Cal 2, UW 0.
Yellow Cards: Cal (Julia Schnugg 36:50), UW (Dani Bridges 42:42).
Red Cards: None.
Records: Cal 8-3-4 (1-2-2 Pac-10), 6-9 (1-3 Pac-10).
Attendance: 843.