ALBANY, N.Y. – The California field hockey team's offense was dormant for large portions of the afternoon Friday, but still managed to force overtime thanks to a Bente Baekers goal late in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, host UAlbany got the game winner early in the first overtime to defeat the Golden Bears 2-1 at Alumni Turf.
 
"I'm disappointed in our first three quarters," Donna Fong Director of Field Hockey Shellie Onstead said. "I think we struggled to find our footing and became frustrated. I'm really proud of our fourth quarter and the fact that we could overcome the frustration and things like the penalty stroke being called back. We did a lot of things right in the fourth quarter and we just need to be able to do that from the first whistle. This is a little about learning to be a strong team on the road, which is the rest of our season."
 
Cal (3-4, 0-1 America East) entered Friday's contest averaging 10 shots a game, but UAlbany's (5-3, 1-0 AE) defense stymied the Bears throughout the first half, holding Cal to zero shots. For the day, Cal finished with seven shots, with all seven shots coming on goal. UAlbany countered with 18 shots, 15 coming on goal.
 
In the opening period, keeper Tina Jolly (3-4) was busy. The Great Danes tallied six shots in the first quarter – five on goal. Jolly recorded three consecutive saves before Charlotte Triggs broke the scoreless tie. Triggs redirected Blanca Orsola's pass in the circle past Jolly for her third goal of the season.
 
Jolly finished her sensational day with a career-best 12 saves, including a save on a penalty stroke midway through the third quarter to keep the Bears within one of the Great Danes. The 12 saves are the most by a Cal keeper since Cato Knipping had 12 against No. 2 North Carolina on Sept. 9, 2022. Defender Cato Geusgens tallied her second defensive save of the season. Jolly's counterpart, Lara Behn (3-0), earned her third win on the year, holding the Bears to one goal with six assists.
 
After three quarters, UAlbany was outshooting the Bears 17-3. However, in the fourth Cal's offense came to life. Baekers tied the game in the 50th minute when she took a cross from Merel Hanssen at the top of the circle and fired a shot to the back post. The goal was Baeker's fourth at Cal and 90th of her career.
 
Cal finished the second half with two fewer shots than the Great Danes, including a 4-0 advantage in the fourth. Jolly faced nine shots in the third and kept them all out of the net.
 
In overtime, UAlbany wasted little time putting the game away. Alison Smisdome scored in the 62nd minute on a penalty corner, the Great Danes' 10th of the afternoon. The goal by Smisdom was her ninth of the year.
 
"I'm always going to be super confident in overtime, but there's a certain amount of luck," Onstead said. "Our corner defense was amazing, a penalty corner in overtime is fewer people and they made a good shot. Tina had a stellar game, she had a good shot at that last ball, but hats off to them for converting in overtime."
 
The Bears will return to action Sunday when they take on Vermont in Burlington. That game is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. PT and will feature live stats and live video, which can be accessed on the field hockey schedule page.
 
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