Oct. 20, 2007

Box Score

STOCKTON, Calif. - California led Pacific, 2-1, at halftime with a chance to clinch the top seed in the NorPac Conference tournament, but the Golden Bears allowed two second-half goals in a 3-2 loss on Saturday at Brookside Field. The Bears' record fell to 9-5 (4-1 NorPac), while the Tigers' record improved to 4-10 (3-2).

Cal would have earned the conference's top seed and a first-round bye in the upcoming conference tournament with a victory over Pacific. The Bears can still claim both with a win in their final conference game against Longwood on Oct. 30 in Berkeley.

This marked the second time in three games that Cal lost after leading 2-1 at halftime, including the 4-3 loss to third-ranked Wake Forest on Oct. 12 in Berkeley.

"This was a whole lot different to me than the Wake Forest game," Cal head coach Shellie Onstead said. "We had it in hand but found a way to give it back. We did it against a top team and then against a not so strong side. We have to look past the physical stuff, about how we're able to take a lead and not keep building on it."

In today's match, senior forward Jennifer Crane put Cal ahead, 1-0, with an unassisted goal in the 22nd minute.

Cal senior goalkeeper Liz Braasch came up strong in the 29th minute when she saved a penalty stroke by Sasha Larsen that would have tied the game.

Sophomore forward Kellie York, set up by freshman forward Natalie Nurnberg, scored in the 31st minute to put the Bears on top 2-0.

In the 34th minute, Pacific struck back with a goal from Katie Fixsen for a 2-1 lead that Cal took into the break.

Just 31 seconds into the second half, Kedibone Leubane scored her first unassisted goal to tie the game at 2-2. Leubane scored the game-winning goal in the 51st minute to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Cal outshot Pacific, 11-10, with Crane taking a game-high six, and collected eight penalty corners, including seven in the second half, to the Tigers' two. Braasch, who played 48 minutes and 15 seconds in goal, wound up with four saves.

Lisa Lohre started her first game as a Bear and fellow freshman midfielder Megan Psyllos recorded her second start and first complete game as a Bear.

Cal split its two games with Pacific this season, including a 6-2 non-conference win over the Tigers on Sept. 21 in Berkeley.

The Bears host fourth-ranked Michigan at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27, at Maxwell Family Field.

GAME SUMMARY

Goal Summary

Cal - Jennifer Crane 21:39
Cal - Kellie York (Natalie Nurnberg) 30:17
Pacific - Katie Fixsen 33:30
Pacific - Kedibone Leubane 35:31
Pacific - Kedibone Leubane 50:05

Goals by Period
	         1	2	F

California 2 0 2 Pacific 1 2 3 Shots by Period 1 2 F California 8 3 11 Pacific 5 5 10 Penalty Corners by Period 1 2 F California 1 7 8 Pacific 1 1 2

Green Cards Cal - Lisa Lohre (10:30), Jennifer Crane (36:48). Pacific - none.