LOWELL, Mass. – California field hockey's strong season ended with another overtime decision as the Golden Bears fell to New Hampshire, 3-2, in the 76th minute of America East quarterfinal play Friday. Though the Bears fall to 9-8 this season, Cal posts its first winning record since 2011.
 
Danielle Mentink tallied 11 saves, marking her fourth game this season with double-digit saves. The Cal goalkeeper kept the Bears alive as New Hampshire hammered 24 shots and took a 15-4 advantage in penalty corners.
 
America East All-Conference and All-Rookie honoree Megan Rodgers scored her 17th goal of the season with the first score of the game, moving into sixth among Cal's single-season record holders. She is tied with Ilse Akkermans' 17 in 1994.
 
Melina Moore scored her eighth goal of the season and is now just two goals away from jumping into the top 10 among Cal's all-time record holders.
 
The Wildcats outshot the Bears 7-2 in the first half, but it was Rodgers' ball that popped over the defenders in the 32nd minute that put Cal on the board.
 
New Hampshire then opened the second half with a 43rd-minute equalizer on the first of the day from Gianna Bensaia, off of one of the Wildcats' nine second-half corners.
 
Moore tallied a go-ahead goal 10 minutes later, at 53:16, on a rebounded shot during a corner opportunity, but New Hampshire kept its hopes alive with another corner goal in the 65th minute. The 2-2 draw pushed the game into overtime with UNH leading 22-8 in shots and 14-3 in corners.
 
Though overtime featured more balanced numbers, Cal couldn't convert on its penalty corner chance and ultimately New Hampshire used another corner to score the golden goal by way of Bensaia's second of the game.
 
The loss ends Cal's America East Tournament postseason run after the Bears clinched a share of the West Division crown in the regular season.
 
HEAD COACH SHELLIE ONSTEAD'S TAKE
On game overall:
"We hung in there today, but I wouldn't say we brought our best game. I'm proud of the effort overall. Dani (Mentink) did a great job of keeping us in it. Everybody gave everything they had, and that's all you can ask."
 
On season overall:
"Looking back on the season, the progress is remarkable. It's obvious and I think everybody is excited on what we can build on for 2018."
 
CAL'S GOALS
31:39 – Megan Rodgers (unassisted)
 
53:16 – Melina Moore (unassisted)
 
NEW HAMPSHIRE'S GOALS
42:05 – Gianna Bensaia (assisted by Ashley Mendonca)
 
64:18 – Erin McNamara (assisted by Ashley Mendonca)
 
75:12 – Gianna Bensaia (assisted by Bloem van den Brekel)