Columbus, Ohio – The California field hockey defense's 13 combined saves weren't enough to thwart fifth-ranked Penn State and the Nittany Lions slipped past Cal, 2-1, at Buckeye Varsity Field Saturday afternoon.
 
Cal's loss (7-4, 2-0 America East) snaps a six-game win streak for the Golden Bears, the program's best since 2007.
 
Defender Femke Delissen scored her first collegiate goal and was one of two Bears with a defensive save on the day, with Gabi Jimenez also tallying a save. Goalkeeper Danielle Mentink's 11 save-total was just one shy of her career-high single-game total.
 
Cal controlled early in the first half, with Katrina Carter sending forth a hard-hit shot in the third minute. It would be Cal's only shot of the first half as the Nittany Lions outshot the Bears 10-1, scoring in the 17th minute when Shay Cannon beat Mentink on the rebound.
 
Penn State led 1-0 at halftime, and quickly added an insurance goal to open the second half. Katie Dembrowski, assisted by Penn State leading scorer Moira Putsch, found the back of the cage at 38:46.
 
Five different Bears tallied shots in the second half, with payoff finally coming from Delissen on a corner play as she grabbed a rebound near the post in the 44th minute.
 
Cal continued to fight for the equalizer to match Penn State's eight second-half shots, and the Bears drew a 5-3 advantage in penalty corners. In the final minute, Cal pulled Mentink for the offensive advantage but the Bears were unable to capitalize.

HEAD COACH SHELLIE ONSTEAD'S TAKE
"It took us a while to get out feet under us in the first half. Judging by the stats in the second half we played them even -- even in shots, had more corners. For the first time this year, we really executed our corners. It all bodes well moving forward. We had a chance to even it. Unlucky, but we'll move on to the next one."
 
CAL'S GOAL
43:59 – Femke Delissen (unassisted)
 
PENN STATE'S GOALS
16:07 – Shay Cannon (unassisted)
38:46 – Katie Dembrowski (assisted by Moira Putsch)
 
NEXT UP
California continues in Columbus against the hosting Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET.