SAN DIEGO – Cal (2-3) had its two-game win streak come to an end Friday with a 16-11 non-conference loss to San Diego State at the Aztec Lacrosse Field. Cal was unable to overcome an early 3-0 deficit in a game the Golden Bears never led. Quinnlyn Mason had the first four-goal game of her career and added an assist for the Bears in the loss, while Nikki Zacarro had a goal and three assists, and San Diego native Marisa Kuberra registered her first hat trick of the campaign with three goals.

San Diego State increased its early three-goal lead to 9-2 at one point late in the first half with four unanswered goals but when Cal finally did answer the Bears scored the final four goals of the opening period to get to within 9-6 at the intermission.

But San Diego State struck first in the second half on a goal by Cailin Young just over a minute after the break at 28:58. Mason twice cut the Aztec advantage to three on her goals with 26:37 and 8:03 to play, while Kuberra also brought the Bears to within three on a goal at 21:12 but Cal could get no closer the rest of the way.

After Cal got within three for the final time on Mason's unassisted goal with 8:03 to go there was nearly five minutes of scoreless action until San Diego State scored three unanswered goals in a stretch of less than two minutes late in the game to seal the victory.

"San Diego State is a team that battles hard, and we were caught off-guard in the beginning," head coach Brooke Eubanks said. "Once we were able to get our feet under us we were able to chop away little by little."

"I think our entire team did a good job at staying calm and chipping away at the score," Mason added. "Our defense came up with some huge caused turnovers and our attack worked well under pressure. But at the end of the day, we just need to work on finishing on more opportunities and playing with intensity for the full 60 minutes."

Mason set a new career best for goals when she found the back of the next for the fourth and final time with 0:08 to go. Mason, who was making her first career start, is the team's leader with 12 goals on the season and had previously registered a single-game career-high three at Mercer a week ago.

"Getting to represent Cal in my hometown is something I don't take lightly," Kuberra said about her first collegiate game in her hometown. "It means being able to live out a dream I've had since high school, and I dialed in on that perspective to take advantage of the few opportunities I got within the huge team effort."

Megan Mix added a pair of goals for Cal both in the first half, while Ashley Ward had both a goal and an assist, and Susie Ropp registered one assist.

Lexi Tan had three goals and an assist to pace five San Diego State players while Emily Resnick, Julia Sheehan, Morgan Taylor and Young had two each. Sheehan and Resnick also had a pair of assists, while Taylor had one. Bailey Brown and Camdyn O'Donnell added one goal while Brown also picked up an assist.

San Diego State goalie Katy Sharretts had eight saves and a .476 save percentage, while Makayla Ward registered eight saves and a .333 save percentage for the Bears.

Both teams had lots of opportunities with the Aztecs taking 40 shots and putting 24 on goal, while the Bears launched 31 with 21 on goal. San Diego State was 4-of-11 on free position shots, while Cal was 3-of-11. Cal had a 16-13 advantage in draw controls.

Cal will conclude its current season-long five-game road trip with its first two Pac-12 games of the campaign at Arizona State and USC next Friday and Sunday. Both contests begin at Noon PT.

"[Tonight] we learned more about own game and how we handle pressure," Mason said. "We are excited to start conference play in a week."