BERKELEY - It was fitting that the lacrosse matchup between California and San Diego State was decided by one goal after the previous two meetings had been decided in overtime. In the 2018 clash, an Aztec goal on a free-position shot with 30 seconds left in regulation proved to be the gamewinner as SDSU beat Cal, 12-11, Sunday in the Golden Bears' home opener at Memorial Stadium. Cal dropped to 1-1 on the season. 

Kirsten Swanson and Eliza Christman both posted hat tricks to lead the Cal scoring attack, while Christman also chipped in two assists to give her five points on the day. 

Swanson and Nikki Zaccaro netted goals on free-position attempts to get the Cal scoring started at the outset of the game. Halfway through the first half, the Bears enjoyed a 5-2 lead, but the Aztecs took momentum into the break, scoring four times in the final five minutes of the half to lead, 6-5, at halftime.

Marisa Kuberra struck first in the second half to even the game at six, but the Aztecs scored four of the next five goals to take a 10-7 lead with 12:39 left in regulation. 

"The thing that we need to work on, reflecting on this weekend, is our consistency," head coach Brooke Eubanks said. "We went through some lulls during the game, making the same mistakes over and over again. We need to learn from the first time we make that mistake and adjust so we can avoid such big momentum swings."

Kuberra scored her second goal of the game, followed by Christman's third tally to cut the deficit to one. After trading goals, Swanson completed her hat trick on a nice pass from Christman to tie the game at 11 with just over two minutes to play. 

The Aztecs gained possession and drew a free-position shot with 28 seconds left on the clock. SDSU's Harlowe Steele successfully converted to give the Aztecs the one-goal victory. 

The Bears notched goals from six different scorers on Sunday. On the season, Cal boasts eight different goal scorers through two games with Christman pacing the Bears with seven points on five goals and two assists. Not far behind is Swanson with five goals. 

Defensively, Meredith Haggerty tallied four draws and caused two turnovers against SDSU, while Kuberra and Elizabeth Koehler garnered three draws each. 

The Bears remain in Berkeley for their next game against Mercer, Sunday, Feb. 18, at noon.