April 4, 2012

Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. - California bolted out to a 6-1 lead and never looked back in its eventual 15-10 win over UC Davis on Wednesday night at Aggie Stadium. The Golden Bears improved their record to 6-5 (3-2 in the MPSF) after the conference win, while the Aggies fell to 5-6 (2-1 MPSF).

"I thought it was a great all-around team effort," Cal head coach Ginger Miles said. "It started in the back. Megan McGinnis made huge saves for us. Defensively we did a good job creating turnovers, getting the ball to the middies, who got the ball to the attackers and let them do their magic."

McGinnis, Cal's sophomore goalkeeper, made a game-high 10 saves in 60 minutes of work. Jordan Majka made eight saves for the Aggies. The Cal defense kept Elizabeth Datino in check. The junior attacker - who entered the week ranked second in the nation in points (65) and points per game (6.4) - led the Aggies with four points (2 goals, 2 assists) tonight.

Cal junior attacker Melissa Humphrey led the way offensively with seven points from two goals and a game-high five assists, while junior attacker Megan Takacs scored six points from a game-high five goals and one assist for the Bears.

"Megan Takacs game in and game out has been a point and goal leader for us," Miles said. "Once again Megan Takacs came to play today. She played with a tremendous amount of heart and effort. Melissa is somebody we've asked to step up this year with Tara Arolla going down before the season. She's stepped into that role admirably, and she's been a leader on the attacking end. Our whole attacking unit did a great job tonight - moving the ball around, being patient and creating opportunities."

Takacs scored the game's first goal at 2:53. After junior attacker Alexa Rozelle notched the second goal at 3:09 to give Cal a 2-0 lead, Davis got on the scoreboard at 4:42 from an Allie Lehner strike. But Takacs completed an early hat trick with goals at 10:00 and 12:44 to move Cal ahead, 4-1.

Humphrey (at 14:25) and Rozelle (16:56) scored next to push the lead to 6-1. The Aggies sandwiched four goals around senior midfielder Vail Horn's strike at 24:04 to get within two of Cal at 7-5, a lead the Bears took into halftime.

That is closest Davis would get to the Bears, who also led 8-6 after trading early goals with the Aggies in the second half. This time Cal scored seven of the first nine goals in the second stanza to claim a 14-7 advantage.

Davis scored three of the last four goals of the game to get within five of the Bears at 15-10, but Cal held on for its victory.

Cal continues conference play when it hosts Fresno State at 1 p.m. on April 10 at Witter Rugby Field.