BERKELEY - The California women's lacrosse team boasted six different goal scorers, offensively, while the defense allowed just one second-half goal in the Golden Bears' 12-7 victory over Robert Morris Monday night from California Memorial Stadium.
With the win, Cal improved to 4-2, the program's best start to a season since 2007.
"That's amazing," head coach
Brooke Eubanks said. "I think that all circles back to teamwork. I don't think this record is just about this year's group as much as its about all the years before us that have helped us build this momentum to where we are now. I think it's amazing and gives us a lot of confidence going into conference play."
Eliza Christman scored four times, while
Chloe Landry scooped seven draws and
Meredith Haggerty and
Kendall Swenson caused two turnovers.
In addition to the four goals from Christman,
Caroline Corzel,
Kirsten Swanson and
Susie Ropp each tallied two scores, while
Kate Mattimore and
Marisa Kuberra found the back of the net once. Mattimore also garnered an assist.
"It's all about who's on within each play and who has the best option, not the first option," Eubanks said. "Our goal is for our opponents to not know who it's going to come from. We don't have a top two or three, we have seven all on the field at the same time who can really score. That's our goal. Our players show that by rising to the occasion on different days, and it's not necessarily the same person every day."
Elizabeth Koehler racked up four ground balls and three draws, while Haggerty added three ground balls and three draws to her totals.
Haggerty's two caused turnovers tonight give her 50 for her career and tie her for sixth all-time in school history with Carey Preble (2002-04). Liz Reifsnyder (2004-07) is fifth with 53.
After Robert Morris opened the scoring, Cal scored five of the next six goals to take a 5-2 lead with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half. Swanson's two goals were also Cal's first two goals of the day.
The Colonials gained the advantage going into halftime, though, as they rattled off four of the final five goals of the half, and the teams went into the locker room tied at six.
After the break, the Bears clamped down, defensively, only allowing one goal, and at the 10:35 mark when Cal had control of the game. Christman scored three of her four goals in the second half, including the first two after the intermission to regain momentum for the Bears.
"We wanted to fix the small things, while respecting what your opponents are good at," said Eubanks. "Robert Morris was very good at driving, handling, slides and we really needed to break it down and get our bodies at the attacking players, not so much our sticks. Our attack did a really good job in the first half. They just need to continue that type of flow and then be a little more patient on finding the wide open person and not forcing the first opportunity."
Jenny Wilkens made six saves and collected one ground ball, tying her with Hilary Lynch for fifth all-time in school history with 102. Allie Shropshire (2008-11) is fourth with 104.
The Bears begin conference play this weekend. Cal's first-ever Pac-12 contest will be at Oregon on Friday, March 9, at 6 p.m. from Eugene, Ore. The Bears first three Pac-12 games will be on the road.
