Cal vs. No. 22 UMass

Friday, Sept. 1 | 3 PM PT | Underhill Field | Berkeley, Calif.
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Cal vs. No. 17 Iowa

Sunday, Sept. 3 | 12 PM PT | Underhill Field | Berkeley, Calif.
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California field hockey wraps up its season-opening homestand looking for the squad's first win of 2017 when the Golden Bears play host to No. 22 UMass and No. 17 Iowa this weekend. The Bears begin their third consecutive game at Underhill with Massachusetts on Friday at 3 p.m., then wrap up the four-game homestand with the Hawkeyes on Sunday at noon. Admission is free, and parking is available directly below the field in the Underhill Parking Structure.

The Bears are coming off a 5-4 double-overtime loss to Michigan State on Monday, their second of the weekend after suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of fifth-ranked Syracuse. Despite the losses, Cal's young defense showcased veteran skills while the Bear offense began to find its rhythm in its second game with seven different players recording a goal or assist. 

Live stats and a live stream will be available via the Field Hockey schedule page on CalBears.com, and follow @CalFieldHockey on Instagram and Twitter, plus Facebook.com/CalFH for a behind-the-scenes look at gameday and more.

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HEAD COACH SHELLIE ONSTEAD'S TAKE

On team mindset: The team is looking focused on the coming games. While we aren't happy with two losses to start, everyone recognizes that we are a work in progress and the results are irrelevant the moment the game is over. The process matters more right now and it is on to the next one. Bring it.

On UMass matchup: I'm looking forward to hosting UMass. We have played there often and it has been a long time since they came out here. They have a new coach after using an interim last year and are doing very well. I know Barb Weinberg from the Beijing team and I am happy to see her get a head coaching position.

On Iowa matchup: We are often neck and neck with Big 10 teams for NCAA berths, so we like to play them. Iowa is near to my heart due to some of their recent struggles off the field, but they are a perennial top-performing team.

NEED TO KNOW

• Cal ranks 23rd in the country in penalty corners per game, averaging 6.50. In two games over opening weekend, Cal earned 13 corners.

• Cal outshot Michigan State 24-15 in Monday's double overtime loss, including an 18-11 advantage in regulation play.

• Two Golden Bears recorded their first collegiate goals against Michigan State -- Gabi Jimenez and freshman Megan Rodgers.

• Rodgers ended her Monday as the Golden Bear leader in points (3), also adding an assist to her first goal.
 

SCOUTING THE MINUTEMEN

• Last Meeting: W, 2-1, on Sept. 12, 2014
• Series: Series is tied, 2-2-1
• Streak: Cal has won the last two meetings against UMass with a combined score of 5-1.
• Freshman Georgia McTear tallied the game-winning goals in both of UMass' wins in opening weekend to earn Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week laurels this week.
• Sarah Hawkshaw was awarded the 2016 Atlantic 10 Championship Most Outstanding Player award. She leads the Minutemen in goals this season with three goals.
• Lucy Cooper paces UMass with seven points on two goals and three assists.
• Melanie Kreusch and Nicole Kuerzi have also scored goals this season.
• Emily Hazard started both games in the cage for UMass, recoring nine saves and allowing four goals in the first two games.
• UMass won the 2016 Atlantic 10 Championship for their fourth league crown in five seasons.
 

SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES

• Last Meeting: L, 3-2, on Oct. 4, 2009
• Series: Iowa leads, 10-1
• Streak: Cal's lone win in the series with Iowa came in a 3-2 victory in Berkeley on Sept. 21, 2002. That season, the Golden Bears went undefeated in the NorPac Conference to win the title.
• Katie Birch is the lone Hawkeye to record a goal this season, scoring two against No. 15 Wake Forest. Both goals came on penalty corners.
• Melissa Progar and Makenna Grewe each own two assists on the season.
• Katie Jones has played all 140 minutes in goal, notching seven saves and allowing six goals.
• Iowa is coming off a 3-0 shutout loss to top-ranked North Carolina. 
 

FROSH FACES

Cal's nine-member freshman class includes five international standouts, as well as Bay Area products Morgan Peterson, Sara Deck and Callie Rose Goodman. Rookie Megan Rodgers spent her summer playing with the USA FIeld Hockey U-19 squad. Four have made their Golden Bear debuts -- Rodgers, Goodman, Maddie Cleat and Valen Garraffo.
 

BEARS TABBED THIRD IN AE WEST

For the second consecutive season, the coaches of the America East have predicted a third-place finish for the Golden Bears (5 points) in the America East, just one point behind second-place Pacific (6 points). Stanford received three first-place votes to be named the favorite in the West, while UC Davis was tabbed last. In the East Division, Maine was predicted as the league's champion.
 

RED, WHITE, BLUE & GOLD

In addition to head coach Shellie Onstead and both assistant coaches Malachi Mahan and Austin Pile holding national team playing or coaching experience, the Golden Bears have a long pipeline of individuals associated with Cal field hockey playing or working with Team USA. This year, both Katrina Carter (U-21) and Megan Rodgers (U-19) played with Team USA's development squads.
 

INTERNATIONAL INFLUX

While field hockey remains a growing sport in the United States, it is well-known internationally, and the Bears are receiving the benefits of its international appeal. Among Cal's 24-woman roster, seven student-athletes hail from a country outside of the United States: Lindsay Mathison (Australia), Femke Delissen (Netherlands), Maddie Cleat (Scotland), Victoria Struys (Belgium), Yvie Lock (UK), Valen Garraffo (Argentina) and Natalie Dalton (Canada). In addition, Sterre van Ede was born in South Africa, Struys has double nationality with Belgium/France and Dalton lived in Ireland as a child.
 

NEXT UP

Cal hits the road for the first time this season to take on Bryant on Sept. 8 and Northeastern on Sept. 10.