BERKELEY - The California lacrosse team (3-2) led by a pair of goals in the fourth period but could not hold on to its lead in a 13-12 loss to UC Davis (2-3) on Monday evening at California Memorial Stadium. The Aggies scored the final three goals of the nonconference between former Pac-12 rivals capped by Lauren Picardi's unassisted game-winner with 1:22 remaining. UC Davis won the draw control following Picardi's game-winner and was able to run out the clock without the Bears getting another possession.

The game was tied 10-10 after three quarters before Cal moved ahead by two goals when Maddie Willkomm started the fourth period by scoring her final two goals of a career-high four. 

But they were the last goals the Bears would score.

Picardi got the Aggies back within one at 12-11 when she scored unassisted with 8:15 remaining in the fourth. Cal then held onto a slim one-goal lead until Cami Johnson tied the game at 12-12 on a woman-up goal with 2:19 to go on an assist by Tory Agnew as the Aggies capitalized 1:29 after a yellow card had been shown to Cal's Kennedy Herndon at the 3:48 mark. Cal was able to withstand the final 31 seconds Herndon's yellow before Picardi's game-winner 26 seconds into even play.

Willkomm's four-goal outburst was supported by Ardyn Henry, who tallied the first two goals and assist of her Cal career and Josie Lillquist, who followed her career-high-tying five-point and six-goal game last Thursday at Oregon by adding a pair of goals, including a conversion on the Bears' lone free-position shot. Katie Bloomer, Willow Cyr, Emily Moes and Courtney Wong also had one goal each with Wong adding two assists.

Picardi had a game-high five points, while Ava Horrocks matched Willkomm's four-goal game to lead UC Davis. Jane Fox added three goals and one assist, while Johnson had a pair of goals and Rhea Cosand picked up one. 

The game had been tied three times in the first half before UC Davis took control by reeling off four of the opening half's final five goals to take a 7-4 lead at halftime. The Aggies also got the opening goal of the period to build an 8-4 advantage before Cal stormed back with six of the period's final eight goals. The six-goal output was Cal's highest in a single period since the Bears had nine in the second period of a 19-16 win at Charlotte on April 11, 2025. 

Emily Altshuler (12 GA, 5 SV) picked up the win in goal to improve to 2-2, while Lulu Murphy (13 GA, 8 SV) took the loss to fall to 3-2. 

The visiting team has now won each of the last six games in the Cal-UC Davis all-time series. UC Davis was the last home team to record a win when the Aggies captured each of their two home meetings in Davis and all three overall in 2021. 

Cal returns to action Saturday with an Atlantic Coast Conference game at #23 Duke (2-2, 0-1 ACC). First draw is scheduled for Noon PT. The contest will be streamed live on ACCNX/ESPN+.