BERKELEY – American scored twice in the final 3:54 to hand California lacrosse a heartbreaking 11-10 loss in nonconference play at California Memorial Stadium on Sunday.

After falling behind 3-0 in the game's opening five minutes, the Golden Bears controlled play for long stretches and led by three goals at 10-7 when Mya Wang scored on an assist by Avery Hoeft with 3:36 to go in the third, but it was the last time the Bears would score.

American started its comeback by recording the final goal of the third quarter when Kellie Linehan tallied on an assist from Maddy Spratt with 1:31 remaining in the period. The Eagles scored all three of the game's goals in the fourth, cutting the Bears' lead to 10-9 on Spratt's goal on an assist from Becca Frank with 7:39 remaining, tying the contest at 10-10 on an Alyssa Apuzzo goal from Emma Hare with 3:54 on the clock and then going in front for the only time in the second half when Hannah Spease tallied the game-winning goal unassisted with 1:41 to play.

Spease and Apuzzo led American with three goals apiece, while Apuzzo added an assist. Spratt and Linehan each had two goals, while Annabelle Jackson tallied one. Rachel Kolton, Reagan Murdoch and Spratt also had assists.

Quinnlyn Mason registered her second consecutive hat trick to lead the Bears, picking up back-to-back goals on assists from Wang and Amanda Morse with 3:43 and 0:48 to go in the first quarter, before getting her third in unassisted fashion with 8:59 to go in the third. Maya Lawliss and Josie Lillquist each had a pair of goals for the Bears. Lawliss closed out the first half with an unassisted goal with 0:10 remaining in and started the second half by scoring at 13:42 on an assist from Lillquist, who had two consecutive goals with 9:54 and 7:27 to go in the second with the latter of the "trash can" variety. Kennedy Mason (unassisted) and Courtney Wong (assist Lillquist) had Cal's other two goals with 7:27 to go in the first and 11:04 remaining in the second.

Mary Alice Collins played the entire game in goal for the Eagles and was credited with the win while picking up seven games. Alicia Souliotis played the first 53:43 for the Bears between the pipes for Cal and had three saves while allowing nine goals. Riley Drullinger played final 6:17 and took the loss by allowing the final two scores.

American (3-3) held a 16-11 advantage in draw controls including 8-2 in the second half. Spease and Kennedy Goss shared game highs with seven each.

Cal caused 15 turnovers, while American forced only four. Annette Ciupek had a game-high five caused turnovers for the Bears, while Amanda Pio contributed four.

"We were ahead in this game in a way that we had control of it and then it just slipped away," head coach Jennifer Wong said. "It was a combo of draw controls, American putting in some goals and us turning the ball over.

"The difference between this being a great win and a terrible loss is two or three plays," Wong added. "It's about in crunch time how do make those plays instead of letting the other team do it. I told the team for so much of this game we played a high-level game, but it was the start and the finish that got us. We have to sit here with this terrible loss right now, but it doesn't really take away from some of the positives that are going on during the majority of the game."

Cal (2-5, 0-1 Pac-12) returns to action next Friday when it visits Oregon (3-2, 0-0 Pac-12) for a Pac-12 matchup. First draw is scheduled for 5 pm PDT in Eugene.