LOUISVILLE — The fifth-seeded California field hockey team was defeated by fourth-seed Duke 7-1 on Tuesday in Louisville in the first round of the ACC Championship. After notching the first goal of the match in the second quarter, the Blue Devils scored seven unanswered to advance to the semifinals.

The illness-stricken Golden Bears (8-8) had to overcome adversity to even put a team out on the field as most of the players and the coaching staff fell ill on Monday. Many members of the regular starting lineup did not play at all and others had limited minutes. 

"On Monday, after our practice, we were on a high and living the dream," Donna Fong Director of Field Hockey Shellie Onstead said. "On Monday night, we were living a nightmare. As more and more players started dropping, I had hope that it was a small thing and would pass quickly. The level of illness was off the charts and when we sent the majority to the hospital Monday night, my concern for their well-being was the priority."

Instead of forfeiting the match, Cal fought through and turned to players who played heavy minutes for the first time this season and in their careers. Junior goalkeeper Lauren Halenkamp made her first career start and her ACC debut in just her second appearance this season. She made her first career save early in the match and collected eight total, keeping Duke out of the net for the entire first quarter and most of the second.

"I get emotional when I think of how these players fought," Onstead said. "How they stood up. How they sacrificed. I started with 5 substitutes and ended with one. Many played a new position or in their first collegiate game."

"I say all of this to define the moment. I have never seen anything like it. You play for that NCAA Tournament. That's the dream. We were ready. There was that vibe that you get as a coach and coaches know what I mean. It wasn't meant to be, but this group deserved better. Warriors - all of them, and they have my love and respect forever."

The Bears were the first to strike with their leading scorer, sophomore Liz Klompmaker, finding the net in the 22nd minute on what would end up being Cal's only shot taken in the contest. Off a turnover Klompmaker drove from midfield all the way to the goal and sent a back-handed shot into the net to put the Bears up 1-0. She now stands alone in th ninth place on the program's scoring list with 31 goals in just two seasons.

The Blue Devils answered with a pair of goals in the second quarter to take a lead into the half that they would hold onto throughout the rest of the afternoon.

Cal will now await Sunday's NCAA Selection Show to see if its season will continue.