BERKELEY – California field hockey earned its first regular-season victory over a ranked opponent since 2015 with an upset over No. 22 UMass, 2-1, at Underhill Field Friday evening.
 
With new signage and branding appearing seemingly overnight all throughout the facility, the Golden Bears christened their "new" home with a comeback victory for their first win of the 2017 season.
 
"The atmosphere here tonight was probably one of the top four or five games that we've ever played, in terms of the support of the crowd and the visuals," said head coach Shellie Onstead. "I told the team before the game that I felt like this was the first day in our new home, and I wanted them to treat it that way because it's actually almost finished. They really embraced it and wanted to put on a quality product."
 
UMass scored in the second minute, marking the third consecutive game that the Bears have offered up a goal in the first five minutes of the game, but just as Cal did against Michigan State on Monday, the Bears climbed back for the equalizer.
 
Katrina Carter scored her first goal of the season just five minutes later to even things up, set up by Mara Gutierrez with her first assist of the season. Gutierrez was key for the Bears all evening, showcasing senior leadership with consistent play and key game management decisions down Cal's winning stretch.
 
Cal dominated the rest of the way through, taking a 5-1 lead in penalty corners after the first half and striking quickly in the second half. Megan Rodgers swept a ball toward the UMass back post to place the gamewinner, and the Bears continued their offensive explosion with 12 shots in the second half for a 20-9 total for the game.
 
Danielle Mentink earned the win for her complete-game performance in the cage, tallying four savs, including two in a two-minute span.
 
"We gathered a lot of energy from the crowd and we can't be unhappy with the home-field advantage," Onstead added.
 
Cal improves to 1-2 this season.
 
HEAD COACH SHELLIE ONSTEAD'S TAKE
On game atmosphere:
The atmosphere here tonight was probably one of the top four or five games that we've ever played, in terms of the support of the crowd and the visuals. I told the team before the game that I felt like this was the first day in our new home, and I wanted them to treat it that way because it's actually almost finished. They really embraced it and wanted to put on a quality product. We gathered a lot of energy from the crowd and we can't be unhappy with the home-field advantage.
 
On Cal's performance overall:
Everybody played so well. We gave up an early goal, but it's okay – it was a quality goal. I didn't consider it a slow start because we stood right up and went back at it and got it under pressure. We just stepped up, and it was great. I'm really impressed with our mentality.
 
On offensive production:
We need to spend more time on corners, and those will turn into goals. The fact that we're earning them means that we're in the circle and we're taking shots, which means we're really dangerous and that is fantastic.
 
CAL'S GOALS
7:13 – Katrina Carter (assisted by Mara Gutierrez)
Carter says: It was a corner, and I just kept (Coach) Austin (Pile) in my mind saying, "Feet towards goal. Feet towards goal." I saw the ball coming at me, put my stick out and tipped it in. (Austin) is always telling us to get a good angle on the ball.
 
40:51 – Megan Rodgers (unassisted)
Rodgers says: I dribbled the ball end line, swept it back post and it hit off one of their players and went it.
 
MASSACHUSETTS' GOAL
1:28 – Lucy Cooper (unassisted)
 
NEXT UP
The Golden Bears wrap up their four-game season-opening homestand against No. 17 Iowa on Sunday at noon on Underhill Field.