BUTLER BULLDOGS (1-5, 0-0 BIG EAST) AT CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (2-5, 0-0 PAC-12)
TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2024 • 11 AM PDT
CALIFORNIA MEMORIAL STADIUM (BERKELEY, CA)
 
CAL HOSTS BUTLER ON TUESDAY TO END FIVE-GAME HOMESTAND
— Cal hosts Butler on Tuesday to end a five-game homestand that is its longest since March 3-16, 2017.
— Cal is coming off a 14-3 victory over Winthrop on Sunday in its most recent outing. The victory ended a five-game losing streak for a 2-5 Cal team, while the Bulldogs are 1-5 after dropping their fifth in a row in an 11-8 decision in their most recent contest at UC Davis on Saturday.
— Cal and Butler are playing for the second time ever with the Bears a 19-7 road winner in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Feb. 24, 2017.
— Tuesday's forecast in Berkeley at first draw calls for cloudy skies with a 40% chance of precipitation, a temperature of 57 degrees, and winds from the west/southwest at 10 miles per hour.
 
THE ROAD AHEAD
— Cal's 15-game schedule crosses the midway mark Tuesday against Butler. The Bears start their Pac-12 slate at Oregon on Saturday, March 16, and in the final year of the conference will also play on the road at USC (March 31), Arizona State (April 6) and Stanford (April 27). Cal's remaining three home games are conference tilts against Colorado (March 23), UC Davis (April 13) and San Diego State (April 20).
 
LAST TIME OUT: CAL TAKES DOWN WINTHROP, 14-3
— Nine different players scored in a 14-3 victory over Winthrop on Sunday. Josie Lillquist had the first hat track of her career to lead the Golden Bears. Kennedy Mason, Addie Fischer and Belle Tiesi added a pair of goals each, while Kennedy Goss, Isabel King, Jane Middleton, Caroline Roxas and Mya Wang had one each.
— Winthrop needed just 56 seconds to score the game's first goal, but the Bears would register the next eight and were in control throughout the contest, finishing with dominant advantages in shots (35-14) and shots on goal (25-11), while also winning the draw control battle (13-8).
— Cal's 11 caused turnovers were a season high, while their 14 turnovers were their fewest since a season-low 10 in a 19-10 season-opening victory against Akron. The Bears 14 goals, 35 shots and 25 shots on goal were also their most since posting season bests against Akron (19, 41, 30).
— Several Bears set or equaled career highs with Josie Lillquist (3 goals), Kennedy Mason (2 free position goals), Emily Moes (2 assists, 2 points), Sydney Southworth (3 caused turnovers) and Belle Tiesi (3 points) setting new career bests, while Kate Alexander (2 ground balls), Avery Hoeft (1 shot, 1 shot on goal), Simone Holland (1 shot, 1 shot on goal), Kalena Johnson (5 draw controls), Mason (2 assists, 4 points), Caroline Roxas (1 goal, 3 shots) and Tiesi (2 goals, 1 assists) tied career highs
— Addie Fischer also tied Cal career highs (2 goals, 2 points, 3 shots), while Jane Middleton had her first collegiate goal and caused turnover, and Annette Ciupek posted her first assist.
 
2024 THEME DAYS
— Cal Bears United is being celebrated at Tuesday's game against Butler. The student-athlete group founded by Cal lacrosse alum Riley Drullinger champions acceptance, diversity and inclusion for the LGBTQIA+ community and beyond. Cal also has remaining theme days for One Love (March 23 vs. Colorado), Cause Day (April 13 vs. UC Davis) and Senior Day (April 20 vs. San Diego State).
 
OTHER NOTABLES
— Cal has dominated draw controls this season with a 98-58 advantage. Kennedy Goss (40), Courtney Wong (28) and Kalena Johnson (21) lead the way. Goss is Cal's all-time leader with 242 and the program's single-season record holder with 83 in 2023.
— Callan Fritsch is the Pac-12's leader in save percentage with a .473 mark.
— Mya Wang recorded Cal's most memorable individual single-game offensive performance of the season with a career-high six goals and one assist for a career-high seven points against Akron.
— Cal has had the same starting lineup in each of its first seven contests.
— Cal has played 27 of the 33 players on its roster, including nine who have made their Cal debuts.
— Cal is playing its sixth and final season in the Pac-12 before officially becoming a member of the ACC on Aug. 2.