Field Hockey Drops 3-2 Decision to California in Penalty Strokes

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Berkeley, Calif. – Senior defender Carolina Bistue converted her penalty stroke to give California a 3-2 shootout victory over No. 19 UAlbany on Saturday afternoon at Maxwell Family Field. The game's final score was also 3-2, with Bistue earning a game-winning goal for her penalty stroke.

The Great Danes had taken a 2-0 first-half lead before the Golden Bears rallied back in the second half to send the game to overtime. Freshman Christina Patrick gave the Great Danes a 1-0 lead by knocking in a rebound in the 21st minute, scoring her first collegiate goal. Classmate Megan Springmeyer scored at 28:45 with an assist by sophomore forward Sarah Dean to push UAlbany's lead to 2-0, which it took into halftime.

Cal (5-1) came out firing in the second half, as senior Andrea Lo recorded a goal at 42:41 off an assist by Natalie Nurnberg. Lo then set up Katie Knoche’s goal in the final minute, passing the ball across the circle, where Knoche shot the ball into the left side of the goal past UAlbany’s Ashley Ross.

After two scoreless overtime periods, senior Michele Polizois gave the Great Danes a 1-0 lead in penalty strokes as she converted her first shot, while the Golden Bears’ Rachel Moffitt shot was stopped by Ross. Ashley Glosz tied the shots at 1-1 for Cal, while UAlbany misfired on the next two attempts. Patrick slipped a shot past Kelly Knoche on her attempt, while Lo evened up the score at 2-2 with her shot. UAlbany was unable to convert its last attempt before Bistue ended the game with her stroke.

Cal held outshot UAlbany, 14-12, while the Great Danes held a 5-4 advantage in penalty corners. Ross played the entire game in the cage for UAlbany, making six saves. Kelly Knoche made seven shots between the pipes for the Golden Bears.

UAlbany (3-2) returns to action on Sunday, taking on Stanford at 6:30 p.m. (EST).

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#19 UAlbany 2 0 0 0 - 2

California 0 2 0 1 - 3

UAlbany: Scoring – Christina Patrick (1-0), Megan Springmeyer (1-0), Sarah Deane (0-1). Goalkeeper – Ashley Ross (100:00, 3 GA, 6 saves).

California: Scoring – Andrea Lo (1-1), Katie Knoche (1-0), Carolina Bistue (1-0), Natalie Nurnberg (0-1). Goalkeeper – Kelly Knoche (100:00, 2 GA, 7 saves).