Kayla Best Scores Four Goals in Women's Lacrosse's 14-9 Loss to California in Berkeley

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Berkeley, Calif. – Freshman midfielder Vail Horn had four of her career-high five goals in the opening half to lead California to a 14-9 victory over UAlbany in a non-league women’s lacrosse game on Friday, Feb. 20 at Memorial Stadium.

California (2-1) led 6-5 in the first half, but then gained control with four unanswered to end the period. Horn tallied back-to-back goals, the first off a free-position opportunity and the second from Ghillie Little’s feed. The Golden Bears scored twice in the final 46 seconds before the intermission. Little, a senior midfielder, netted her second goal of the game, before Sam Price connected as the horn sounded.

The Golden Bears, who were coming off a 19-7 loss to third-ranked Duke five days ago, kept a working five-to-six goal margin in the final period. UAlbany’s Kayla Best scored an unassisted goal midway through the half, but Price answered nearly three minutes later for a 13-7 advantage. Price, a senior attacker, finished with four goals, the second time she has accomplished that feat this season.

In the first half, California jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening five minutes, but Best and sophomore Mel Rorie netted consecutive shots to cut into the deficit. Horn later gave her team a 6-4 cushion with 11:30 remaining in the half. UAlbany’s Jodi Battaglia answered back 41 seconds later with her fifth of the season.

Goalkeeper Morgan Dyson had eight saves for the Golden Bears, who finished 9-9 last season as a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Little had two goals and two assists, while first-team all-conference midfielder Alyse Kennedy scored once and assisted on another.

UAlbany’s Best had three of her season-high four goals in the first half. She extended her goal-scoring streak to 33 consecutive games. Christine Grueniger added a pair of goals. The Great Danes, who fell to No. 17 Stanford two days, wrapped up their three-game California road trip.

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UAlbany (1-2) 5 4 - 9

California (2-1) 10 4 - 14

UAlbany – Scoring: Kayla Best 4-0, Christine Grueniger 2-0, Mel Rorie 1-0, Jodi Battaglia 1-0, Melanie Sosnowski 1-0, Julie Bush 0-2, Rory Redmond 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Katie Neer (48:12, 3 saves, 13 GA); Ashley Ross (11:48, 0 saves, 1 GA).

California – Scoring: Vail Horn 5-0, Sam Price 4-0, Ghillie Little 2-2, Tarra Arolla 1-2, Alyse Kennedy 1-1, Alex Tickner 1-0, DennaFaye Herald 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Morgan Dyson (60:00, 8 saves, 9 GA).