Field Hockey Falls To Cal, 3-0

Aug. 27, 2006

BERKELEY, Calif. - Valentina Godfrid scored two first-half goals as California (2-0) defeated Massachusetts (0-2), 3-0, Sunday afternoon at Maxwell Family Field on the campus of the University of California. The Minutewomen will conclude their season-opening trip to the Bay Area with a 6:00 p.m. (EST) game Tuesday against Pacific. UMass had six penalty corners and 11 shots, six of which were on goal.

UMass had the first scoring chance of the game six minutes in. Sophomore Katelyn Orlando (Manchester, Mass.) had a shot from five yards out that was saved by Cal goalkeeper Veronica Sykes. The Minutewomen were awarded the game's first penalty corner, but were unable to get a clean shot off.

With 10:35 left in the first half, Cal scored the game's first goal on a broken play. After a free hit, Cal's Valentina Godfrid sent in a ball from the top of the circle that found its way into the back of the cage through a lot of traffic. Two minutes later, the Bears scored again. Godfrid broke in alone on UMass junior goalkeeper Becky Letourneau (Greenfield, Mass.). Letourneau came out of the net to challenge, but Godfrid was able rifle a shot past her from about 10 yards out.

Neither team had much of a scoring chance the rest of the first half and Cal took a 2-0 lead into intermission. The Bears held a 6-2 edge in shots for the half and both teams had one corner.

UMass had a chance to get right back in the game with 27 minutes left. The Minutewomen had three straight corners, but were unable to capitalize. Senior Kwylan Jaggassar (Longdenville, Trinidad & Tobago) took the first shot, but it was saved by Sykes. On the ensuing corner, junior Nicole Phelan (North Andover, Mass.) had a shot saved by Sykes. The Minutewomen were awarded a third straight corner, but junior Kara Murphy (Dedham, Mass.) had her shot from the right side of the circle blocked by a defender.

The Bears had several chances to break the game open, but Letourneau was able to make the saves. Then with 5:38 left, Cal made it 3-0 when Andrea Lo tipped in the rebound off a penalty corner.

UMass had a flurry in the final minute with four shots, but Sykes made three saves and saw one hit the right post. Letourneau made six saves for the Minutewomen.

The Minutewomen will enjoy a day off the in Bay Area tomorrow before closing out its season-opening trip Tuesday against Pacific at 6:00 p.m. EST. The game will be played on the campus of the University of California.

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Team Stats

PHELAN Nicole

ORLANDO Katelyn

SANDERS Gina

PARKER Erin

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics