March 21, 2010

Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Alyse Kennedy led a late California charge, scoring three of the Golden Bears' last five goals, but Cal ran out of time and lost to Fairfield, 18-14, on Sunday at Alumni Stadium. The Bears' record fell to 2-5 after the nonconference loss, while Fairfield improved to 5-2.

"It was an interesting game," Cal head coach Theresa Sherry said. "We prepared pretty hard for this one, and I think we had the knowledge we needed but didn't execute well from the beginning. It took too long to get into our rhythm. We fought back a little bit but never got in synch on the defensive and attacking ends. We scored some goals to get back in it, but they won draw controls late and got possession. And they have a pretty potent attack, so that gave us trouble."

Kennedy had a strong game, as she also led all players with five draw controls.

The Stags' Kristen Coleman led all scorers with eight points (6 goals, 2 assists), and teammate Caitlin Young scored five goals.

Sophomore attackers Allie Welsh and Tara Arolla scored to tie the game at 2-2 at 8:10 of the first half after Coleman and Young tallied for Fairfield.

The Stags reeled off the next three goals, with two by Coleman and one by Young, to lead, 5-2, at 12:57.

Arolla scored her second at 16:32 and senior midfielder Alex Tickner struck at 17:15 to bring Cal back within one at 5-4.

But Fairfield scored four of the next five goals, including three straight, to lead, 9-5. Senior attacker Catie O'Mahoney converted an eight-meter shot at 24:22 for Cal.

Bears sophomore midfielder Vail Horn scored the last goal of the first half at 27:12, and the Stags took a 9-6 lead into the break.

Cal scored three of the first five goals of the second half, and the Bears pulled to within two at 11-9 on Horn's goal at 38:09.

But the home team ran off six straight goals, with Brittany Bare's eight-meter goal capping the run at 48:14, to lead 17-9.

The Bears replied by scoring five of the last six goals of the game, including Kennedy scoring the last two, but Cal fell, 18-14.

Statistics were somewhat even for the two teams, which tied in draw controls at 16 apiece. Fairfield outshot Cal, 35-33, while the Bears had the ground balls advantage at 18-11.

"Alyse gave us a real boost at the end, including getting five draw controls in the game," Sherry said. "We had trouble in the second half with draw controls, but she helped us get possession, scored goals and drew fouls when not scoring. She was able to finish, and overall she did a good job."

Cal concludes its East Coast trip with games at William and Mary on Wednesday, March 24, and at George Mason on Sunday, March 28.

GAME SUMMARY

	         1	2	F
California	6	8	14
Fairfield	         9	9	18

California Scoring
Goals: Alyse Kennedy 4; Alex Tickner 3; Tara Arolla 2; Vail Horn 2; Allie Welsh 1; Lauren Johnson 1; Catie O'Mahoney 1. Assists: Tara Arolla 1; Megan Takacs 1; Allie Welsh 1.

Fairfield Scoring
Goals: Coleman, Kristen 6; Young, Caitlin 5; MacKay, Katie 3; Mangan, Chloe 2; Reardon, Kate 1; Bare, Brittany 1. Assists: Coleman, Kristen 2; Reardon, Kate 1.

Goalkeeping
California: Allie Shropshire, 7 saves,18 GA, 60:00. Fairfield: Katie Keenan, 13 saves, 14 GA, 60:00.

Att.: 150.