ORONO, Maine – Cal's offense ignited with 18 shots across 70 minutes, but strong defense by Vermont kept the Golden Bears at bay as they fell to the Catamounts, 3-2, Saturday morning on neutral ground in Orono, Maine.
 
The Golden Bears shot on frame 11 times, but standout play by Catamount keeper Lena Benwood, who tallied nine saves, gave conference foe Vermont the edge. Cal falls to 3-8 overall, and 1-2 in America East action.
 
Sophomore Melina Moore racked up three points on the day with a goal and an assist, and junior Mara Gutierrez also scored a goal for the Bears.
 
Vermont scored twice in the first 23 minutes, including one goal from Landon Warren off a penalty corner. Gutierrez cut the Catamount lead in half at 27:41, taking a ball at the top of the circle and sending it to the right for a goal. It was one of only two Cal shots in the first half.
 
The Bears made adjustments at halftime and came out with more tenacity on offense in the second half, outshooting Vermont 16-2 and winning the corner battle 7-1.

"We played a lazy first half and that cost us the game," said head coach Shellie Onstead.
 
Vermont built another two-goal lead at 58:32 with a second goal by Warren, 3-1, and Moore looked to help the Bears even things out in the 66th minute by grabbing a rebound and sending it into the cage.
 
Cal goalkeeper Kori Griswold notched two saves before leaving the game with an injury at 58:32. The Bears played the remainder of the game with a kicking back and continued to generate a high offensive output despite missing their defensive leader.

The Bears continued to fight, but failed to tally the equalizer, finishing the game with an 18-7 advantage in shots and 8-4 lead in corner kicks.
 
 
GOLDEN BEAR GOALS
27:41 – Mara Gutierrez (assisted by Sydney Earle, Melina Moore)
Gutierrez says: It was a straight shot from the top of the circle to the right corner of the goal.
 
65:20 – Melina Moore (unassisted)
Moore says: It was off a corner, and there were a bunch of rebounds. I had my stick on the ground, so when I received it, I pushed it to the cage.
 
VERMONT'S GOALS
12:30 – Lauren Tucker (assisted by Anne-Marie Farmer, Olivia Hurd)
22:12 – Landon Warren (unassisted)
58:32 – Landon Warren (unassisted)
 
NEXT UP
The Bears return to UMaine Field Hockey Complex on Sunday at 8 a.m. to face Maine in the second contest of a five-game road trip.