Sept. 18, 2011
Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO - The No. 22/25 California women's soccer team erupted for six goals to down San Francisco, 6-1, Sunday afternoon at Negoesco Stadium and extend its winning streak to seven matches. The Bears (7-1) received goals from six different individuals in the win over the Dons (3-6).
"I thought we played well today and did a nice job on the offensive side," said Cal head coach Neil McGuire. "They scored a nice goal to get back into the game and we responded right away which I thought was important and continued to put pressure on their backs. We start Pac-12 play on Friday and we have a lot of work to do to prepare for a challenging conference slate."
Cal has scored four or more goals in five of its eight matches this season. The Bears, who have netted 35 goals in their eight contests this season, scored six or more goals for the second time this season in Sunday's match.
Cal ended a quiet first half with its first goal of the match in the 39th minute. The Bears capitalized on a foul to set up the score. Sophomore Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick took the free kick and rocketed a shot into the box where Grace Leer worked off her defender and received the ball, sending it past USF goal keeper Gabby Guaiumi for the goal at the 38:12 mark.
The goal was the first of Leer's career. She entered the match just minutes before scoring the goal.
California held a decisive 10-4 shot advantage and a one-goal lead heading into halftime.
Cal continued to make the Dons pay for their errors in the second half as a foul in the box on Lauren Battung set the junior up for a penalty kick opportunity in the 55th minute. Battung, who nearly scored two minutes earlier on a shot from close range, calmly stepped up and drilled the penalty kick to give the Bears a two-goal advantage.
USF quickly responded with a goal of its own as Christina Moberg scored on a pass from Kelly Farrell off a broken play less than a minute later.
Senior Katie Benz capped an action-packed three minutes when the forward was fouled in the box and converted the penalty kick at the 57:10 mark to push the Bears back to a two-score edge. She found the back of the net in the left corner for the score to extend her streak to seven-straight matches with a goal. She has played a scoring role in all eight of the Bears contests this season.
California stretched its lead to 4-1 in the 75th minute off a free kick from freshman Thelma Bjork Einarsdottir that snuck just inside the near post.
Freshman Kory Lamet got into the scoring act with a goal in the 81st minute off feeds from Rachel Mercik and Bennett. Mercik later capped the scoring with her first goal of the season in the 83rd minute to give the Bears the 6-1 lead.
Cal controlled play throughout, out-shooting USF, 22-10 in the match. Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Kruger played 80 minutes in between the posts for the Bears with five saves before handing it over to Lauren Hein for the final 10 minutes of the match. Hein recorded two saves in the contest.
Cal returns to Berkeley where the Bears will open Pac-12 play with a home match against Arizona State Friday at 4 p.m. at Edwards Stadium.
