April 2, 2008

Box Score

MORAGA, Calif. - Twelve different Golden Bears scored goals as California routed conference foe Saint Mary's, 15-2, on Wednesday afternoon at Saint Mary's Stadium. The Golden Bears improved their record to 6-5 (2-0 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation), while the Gaels fell to 2-10 (0-1 MPSF). Cal has a 14-1 record in the all-time series with Saint Mary's.

Cal has won four of its last five games and two straight. The Bears are also 2-1 on their current seven-game road trip.

Head coach Theresa Sherry was able to play most of the Bears' roster. Four players scored the first goals of their Cal careers, including freshman midfielder Emily Abbood, sophomore attacker Katie Felber, sophomore attacker Catie O'Mahoney and freshman midfielder Zoe Jones. The latter scored two goals against the Gaels.

Defensively, Cal allowed just 17 shots; only eight of those were shots on goal. Bears freshman goalkeeper Allie Shropshire made two saves and allowed just one goal in the first half. Junior teammate Morgan Dyson made four saves and allowed the other Gaels goal in the second half.

"In the past when we've been ahead in games and substituted, we've allowed other teams to score," Sherry said. "No matter who was in today, we played stubborn defense and only gave up two goals. On the attack, we had 12 different people score. Whoever came in the game made a viable impact."

Cal produced 32 shots. Bears senior attacker Danni Zuralow (3 goals) and sophomore midfielder Alex Tickner (1 goal, 2 assists) tied for game-high scoring honors with three points each. Eight different Bears collected assists.

"Alex really stepped up her game starting on Sunday [in an 11-9 win at UMBC]," Sherry said. "She really has taken things to a new level. This entire year, she's been a real connection for us in midfield, doing a lot of the dirty work and not necessarily getting stats. She has been possessing for us, winning draw controls; she's been on the draws a lot this year.

"The last few games she's found a way to make an impact on both ends, causing turnovers and getting ground balls and getting on board on the attack. That's what I'm happy about for her. She's been given better options in midfield. She's been playing smarter as well."

Cal took a 6-0 lead on goals by junior attacker Madeleine Dale (at the 2:16 mark); Zuralow, who scored 11 seconds apart (4:34 and 4:45); sophomore midfielder Alyse Kennedy (6:31); junior attacker Elizabeth "T" Jahp; and Abbood (7:19), who converted an eight-meter attempt.

Alana Burrough snapped Cal's run with a Gaels' goal at 11:12 to make the score 6-1. But the Bears scored the first half's final three goals - by senior midfielder Cristen Andrews (11:49), Tickner (13:28) and Jones (8-meter goal at 19:27) - to give Cal a 9-1 halftime lead.

Jones also scored the first goal of the second half at 35:01 to start a 4-0 run by the Bears. Zuralow (48:20), Felber (51:07), freshman midfielder Chapin Jackson (51:47) also scored to give Cal a 13-1 lead. Dana Elfvin scored at 52:37 to make the score 13-2.

Freshman attacker Nellie Hayes (57:35) and O'Mahoney (59:52) scored the game's final goals to give the Bears their 15-2 win.

Cal returns to action on Saturday, when the Bears play MPSF opponent UC Davis at 4 p.m. in Davis, Calif.

GAME SUMMARY

	         1	2	F
California	9	6	15
Saint Mary's	1	1	2

California Scoring
Goals: Danni Zuralow 3; Zoe Jones 2; Alex Tickner 1; Alyse Kennedy 1; Madeleine Dale 1; Emily Abbood 1; Nellie Hayes 1; Katie Felber 1; Catie O'Mahoney 1; Cristen Andrews 1; Elizabeth "T" Jahp 1; Chapin Jackson 1. Assists: Alex Tickner 2; Emily Abbood 1; Brittany Aungier 1; Madeleine Dale 1; Katie Felber 1; Nellie Hayes 1; Alyse Kennedy 1; Sam Price 1.

Saint Mary's Scoring
Goals: Alana Burrough 1; Dana Elfvin 1. Assists: Abbie Coleman 1; Maggie Schwab 1.

Records: California 6-5 (2-0 MPSF). Saint Mary's 2-10 (0-1 MPSF).