The California field hockey team tied the game at 1-1 at Louisville just before halftime but gave up a pair of goals within a 30-second span in the third period that ended up being the difference maker. The Golden Bears (6-6, 2-4 ACC) snapped their three-game winning streak with a 3-1 loss to the Cardinals (7-7, 1-4) at Trager Stadium on Friday evening.
 
Down 1-0 in the first half, Olivia Sharratt was able to make a defensive save on Louisville's third penalty corner and scored the equalizer just a minute later after Maya Hoepfner sent her an ariel from just outside the 25-yard line. Sharratt was able to knock down the pass and score a crafty goal from just a few feet off the side of the cage. It marked her sixth goal of the season.
 
Cal had an opportunity in the third period when Liz Klompmaker was on a breakaway and forced a Louisville green card which was upgraded to a penalty corner at the 5:43 mark. Lieve Schalk's ensuing shot attempt was blocked, however.
 
The game was still tied going into the fourth period, but the Cardinals' Izzy Bianco scored her second goal of the game with 9:14 to go. Just a few seconds later, Louisville stole a pass at midfield and sent the ball into the circle which found a Cardinal for a one-shot score to go up 3-1.
 
A Cardinals player received a yellow card with 5:13 left in the game while the Bears earned a penalty corner but they were unable to score as Hoepfner's shot attempt went just wide right. Cal ended up pulling goalkeeper Delphine Ayitey-Hammond with 3:43 left in the game but was unable to get any closer in the game.

"I tip my hat to Louisville," Donna Fong Director of Field Hockey Shellie Onstead said. "They came with a plan and executed well. We had a slow start and struggled to get on track. You can't afford to do that with any ACC team. They are all top level, regardless of their conference record. We fly to Wake tomorrow and look ahead from here."
 
NEXT UP
Cal stays on the road to face No. 5 Wake Forest on Sunday at 9 a.m. PT.  
 
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