Feb. 22, 2009

Box Score

BERKELEY - California lost to No. 3 Syracuse, 18-2, in a steady downpour on Sunday at Memorial Stadium. Sophomore midfielder Emily Abbood and senior attacker Sam Price scored for the Golden Bears, whose record evens out at 2-2 after the non-conference game. Syracuse, a 2008 NCAA semifinalist, improved to 3-0.

This is the second straight week in which Cal has lost to a 2008 NCAA semifinalist that was ranked No. 3 in the nation. On Feb. 15 in Denver, Cal lost to then-No. 3 Duke, 19-7. Cal is slated to play all four 2008 NCAA semifinalists, including national runner-up Penn on Feb. 27 in Philadelphia and four-time defending champion Northwestern on April 5 in Evanston, Ill.

"What I really want my team to take away from playing these teams is the grittiness and the fight that all those teams have," Cal head coach Theresa Sherry said. "Taking care of fundamental skills is what all those teams do very well. They have very few lapses on the defense, on the attack and in the midfield.

"We really need to put it together on all ends of the field, and we have a ways to go there it seems. Playing the top teams in the country, especially two so far this season, has been eye-opening for our current players, and hopefully that can motivate them to get to that level."

Syracuse senior attacker Katie Rowan, the Orange's all-time leading scorer who collected five goals and three assists against Cal, led all scorers with eight points. Orange junior attacker Halley Quillinan led all goalscorers with six.

The weather did not slow down the talented Orange, which led Cal 8-0 in the first 9:15 of the first half. The Bears scored when Abbood converted an eight-meter shot at 12:15. Cal trailed, 8-1.

Syracuse outscored Cal, 3-1, the rest of the half. Price, off an Elizabeth "T" Jahp assist, scored Cal's second and final goal of the day at 21:29.

Cal trailed, 11-2, at the break. The rain slowed considerably at halftime but picked up in time for the start of the second half.

Quillinan scored four goals in the second half, including the half's first goal at 38:08. Rowan assisted on the game's final goal, by Awehiyo Thomas, at 47:40.

Cal next hits the road to play at Penn on Feb. 27 and at Temple on March 1 in Philadelphia.

GAME SUMMARY

		1	2	F
Syracuse	        11	7	18
California	2	0	2

Syracuse Scoring
Goals: Quillinan, Halley 6; Rowan, Katie 5; Mosenson, Megan 2; Dove, Christina 2; Terracciano, Elise 1; Looney, Bridget 1; Thomas, Awehiyo 1. Assists: Rowan, Katie 3; Mosenson, Megan 2; Dove, Christina 1.

California Scoring
Goals: Emily Abbood 1, Sam Price 1. Assists: Elizabeth "T" Jahp 1.

Goalkeeping
Syracuse: Liz Hogan, 6 saves, 2 GA, 52:47; Brooke Conley, 0 saves, 0 GA, 7:13. California: Morgan Dyson, 1 save, 8 GA, 9:15; Allie Shropshire, 8 saves, 10 GA, 50:45.

Records: California 2-2 (1-0 MPSF). Syracuse 3-0 (0-0 Big East).

Att.: 77.