BERKELEY - The California women's lacrosse team made sure the final home game for the Golden Bears' nine seniors ended with a win.

Behind 11 first-half goals, Cal defeated Arizona State, 17-8, Sunday afternoon from California Memorial Stadium. 

The Bears improved to 6-8, 3-4 on the year. 

Playing in front of the home fans for the final time in their careers, senior Kirsten Swanson paced Cal with a career-high tying five goals while fellow senior Caroline Corzel was right behind her with four. The seniors got it done from both sides of the field as senior Eliza Christman paced Cal with five draws, and she and Corzel each caused two turnovers. Christman also tied for the team lead in ground balls with three. 

"We have a fantastic senior group," head coach Brooke Eubanks said. "This group started here with those same nine, and they've stayed together that whole time, which I think is pretty unusual. I think it shows their loyalty and their commitment to this program. So to be able to honor them with a game like this is pretty awesome."

The Sun Devils scored first, but it was all Cal after that in the first half. The Bears rattled off six straight goals to earn a five-goal lead halfway through the opening half before Arizona State scored again. Swanson picked up three of her six points on the day during that span. 

Swanson scored twice more in the final 12 minutes of the first half, and Cal went into the locker room enjoying an 11-2 lead. 

"This is something our program is definitely working towards, more games like today," Eubanks said. "Our seniors have done so much to help get us to this point. Arizona State is a very good team, and they showed that with their comeback in the second half. I'm proud of our players to ride that wave and refocus and take control back."

ASU fought back in the second half, cutting Cal's lead down to six with just under 10 minutes remaining in regulation. But the Bears held firm and scored the final three goals of the day to send the seniors and fans home happy, listening to Palms of Victory by the Cal Straw Hat band in attendance. 

As has been the case all year, the Bears boasted many goal scorers with seven scoring at least one goal on Sunday. After the combined nine goals from Swanson and Corzel, Nikki Zaccaro totaled four points on two goals and two assists. Susie Ropp tallied three points on two goals and one assist. Christman netted two goals in her final home game as a Bear, and Cameron Gordon and Catherine Roxas each garnered a goal, as well. 

The Bears posted 41 shots to 19 for the Sun Devils. Cal also doubled up ASU on ground balls, 20-10, and earned three more draws than their foes from the desert, 15-12. Lizabanks Campagna contributed to that with four draws on her stat sheet. 

Jenny Wilkens recorded three ground balls, leaving her one shy of the school career record. 

Cal is off next week before heading to Oregon on Friday, April 12, at 5 p.m. from Eugene, Ore.

The nine seniors who played their final home game at California Memorial Stadium today were Lou Biffar, Caroline Corzel, Eliza Christman, Madeline Jahelka, Ashley Jones, Madison Roberts, Kirsten Swanson, Kendall Swenson and Jenny Wilkens. 

"They're fantastic student-athletes who come to work every day to get better as individuals and for this team," Eubanks said. "They're amazingly smart in the classroom and leaders in the community. The most important thing to me is that they're fantastic people. I really enjoy spending time with them. I love being around them. They're a great group to coach."