BERKELEY - The California lacrosse team opened its three-game spring break road trip with a 12-5 loss at Louisville (5-5, 2-4 ACC) in an Atlantic Coast Conference game. The Cardinals scored the first three goals of the contest and never trailed.

The first half was dominated by the defense of both teams with the Cardinals scoring the game's only goal in the first quarter and adding the first two in the second before Katie Bloomer picked up the Golden Bears only tally of the opening 30 minutes on an assist by Avery Hoeft with just 2:43 remaining before intermission.

Cal was able to keep the game close in the opening half due in large part to six first-half saves from starting goalkeeper Lulu Murphy but Louisville dominated the third by scoring the first five goals in the period before Alina Hsu tallied unassisted for the Bears with 2:38 to go.

The Cardinals would tack on the first two goals of the fourth to increase their lead to 10-2 and had a total of four scores in the fourth. Courtney Wong mixed in a pair of goals and Ashleigh Masterson one to reduce the final margin. Emily Moes was credited with an assist on Wong's first goal.

Reese Whiteman led eight Cardinals' goal scorers with a game-high four goals and added one assist to total five points. Whiteman had three of her goals in the Cardinals' critical five-goal third.

Despite the defeat, Cal outshot Louisville, 32-30, and equaled the Cardinals' 19 shots on goal. Both teams committed 18 turnovers. Cal, who leads the ACC in ground balls, had a 23-17 advantage in that category, while Louisville won the draw control battle, 11-8.

Clara Page, who came into the contest second in the ACC in ground balls, added a game-high-tying four ground balls along with teammate Ari Tavoso.

Louisville goalkeeper Haley Richards helped mitigate Cal's shooting prowess with a season-high 16 saves. Lulu Murphy and Chloe Rand combined to total 10 saves for the Bears.

Cal continues its current three-game road trip with a nonconference contest Tuesday at Xavier (2-8, 0-1 Big East). First draw is at 2:30 pm PT and the contest can be watched live on Xavier+.