Nov. 5, 2010

Final Stats
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BERKELEY -It took the California women's soccer team 23 minutes and 24 seconds to establish a permanent lead over Oregon en route to a 2-0 win over the Ducks on Friday afternoon at Edwards Stadium. Freshman forward Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick scored her first career goal in the 24th minute and sophomore forward Lauren Battung tacked on an insurance score in the 83rd.

Cal improves to 8-5-5 overall and 3-4-1 in the Pac-10 Conference while the Ducks fall to 7-9-3 and 3-4-1 in the Pac-10.

"Today was the best team effort we've had all season," Cal head coach Neil McGuire said. "They stuck to the game plan, which was designed differently than other games. I'm very proud of them for working as hard as they did, especially against a tough opponent in Oregon."

McGuire and the Bears were visibly relieved with the win, which snapped a three-game winning streak for the Ducks. The victory was the first in three games for the Bears, who have struggled offensively of late, scoring just one goal in the last two weeks.

"It feels really good," McGuire said of Cal's first win since Oct. 17. "I think our girls worked extremely hard in practice all week at being more disciplined in front of the goal. They certainly worked hard at creating more opportunities. Today, I felt like we created a number of very good opportunities and the Bears scored some very good goals."

With fresh legs, Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick scored less than 60 seconds after coming into the match in the 23rd minute on an Oregon goal kick. The ball had barely crossed midfield when the Bears regained control and sent the ball back from where it came.

Betsy Hassett passed to Samantha Walker, who was flanked by two Oregon defenders. Walker streaked down the sideline to take it the last length of the field on the nearside and crossed the ball into Fitzpatrick. With one touch, Fitzpatrick shot the ball into the back left corner for her first goal as a Golden Bear.

After 23:24 minutes of scoreless play, Fitzpatrick's goal established what would be a permanent lead. The score was her first as a Bear.

"I was really antsy the whole season to score," Fitzpatrick said. "I feel like I'm more comfortable now that I broke that spell. I felt like it was an instant replay in my mind when I saw it go in the goal. I thought, `My shot just went in the goal. I just scored my first goal!' It felt great. I feel like I'm more comfortable on the ball now and I can't wait to score some more."

In the 83rd minute, Battung broke off from the pack with two Ducks chasing to go one on one with the keeper. Parlee fell on Battung's first shot, and they both fell entangled in a heap while the ball drifted towards the near side. Battung made chase, getting there well before Parlee, chipped it around the left post from the near side for the score.

The score was Battung's seventh of the season, which further affirms her status as the team's second-leading scorer. She also has four assist to her credit thus far in the 2010 campaign.

Cal took its 1-0 lead into halftime with a 7-6 shot ratio with the Ducks. The Bears started the second half with a bang when Danielle Brunache shot from the midfield right after the whistle.

Four minutes into the second half, a Cal foul gave Oregon a free kick, which 3 took. Her shot from 30 yards out hooked perfectly towards the center of the goal. Kruger was there for the save, but the ball double bounced in her clutch, eliciting a reaction from the crowd but the 5-11 keeper held on for the save.

With 23:39 to play, the Bears looked as if the game was moving to 2-0 when Katrin Omarsdottir put the ball into the lower right 90, but it was called back with Omarsdottir offside.

Fitzpatrick did her part on defense as well. Scout Libke took a corner from the far side with 14:53 to play. The cross sailed into the scrum in goal mouth, but Fitzpatrick handily dribbled the ball out of the fray.

Battung and Omarsdottir looked to add another goal with three to play. Omarsdottir passed the ball from the midfield to Battung on the far side, but Oregon's Achijah Berry was there to kick it to the keeper.

The Bears conclude their regular season schedule on Sunday with a noon match-up against No. 7/13 Oregon State. The game will be the final ones for seniors Megan Jesolva, McKenna McKetty and Emily Shibata, all of whom will be honored prior to kickoff