Oct. 2, 2012
Friday, Oct. 5
3 p.m. PT - No. 15 Cal (9-3-0, 2-1-0 Pac-12) at Colorado (6-3-3, 0-2-1 Pac-12)
Prentup Field - Boulder, Colo.
Coverage: GameTracker, Twitter
All-Time Record vs. CU - 2-1-0
Last Meeting With CU - L 1-0 (10/21/11)
Sunday, Oct. 7
Noon PT - No. 15 Cal (9-3-0, 2-1-0 Pac-12) at Utah (7-2-2, 2-1-0 Pac-12)
Ute Soccer Field - Salt Lake City
Coverage: GameTracker, Twitter
All-Time Record vs. Utah - 4-0
Last Meeting With Utah - W 2-0 (10/23/11)
THE LAST MEETING
October 21, 2011
Berkeley
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THE LAST MEETING
October 23, 2011
Berkeley
No. 15 California Downs Utah, 2-0, On Senior Day
Senior Danielle Brunache and sophomore Mekenna DeBack powered the No. 15 California women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Utah Sunday afternoon in front of 642 fans on Senior Day at Edwards Stadium.
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BERKELEY - Fresh off its first conference series sweep in two years, the No. 15 California women's soccer team hits the road in search of two more Pac-12 victories. The Golden Bears (9-3-0, 2-1-0 in the Pac-12) first take on Colorado (6-3-3, 0-2-1 Pac-12) on Friday, Oct. 5 in Boulder. Cal then heads to Salt Lake City for a Sunday, Oct. 7 tilt against the Utes (7-2-2, 2-1-0 Pac-12).
Scouting the Bears
• Cal is 9-3-0 overall, 2-1-0 in the Pac-12 and on a three-game winning streak
• Cal is 5-3 when playing at home and 4-0 on the road
• The Bears are outshooting their opponents by over 100, averaging 17.8 shots to 8.6
• Ifeoma Onumonu leads the Bears in goals with five (two assists, 12 points)
• Betsy Hassett is the points leader at 13 thanks to her four goals and five assists
• Emily Kruger has played the bulk of the minutes in goal, owning a 0.85 GAA
• The Bears have won all four meetings with Utah, most recently a 2-0 victory last year
• Colorado broke open the series stalemate last year by defeating Cal 1-0
• Cal's last road game resulted in a 3-0 win at Nevada on Sept. 23
Lawson Named to Team of the Week
After playing 180 minutes in the back line as Cal picked up a pair of important Pac-12 victories, Emi Lawson merited placement on the TopDrawerSoccer.com team of the week. Lawson led the Golden Bears to a 2-0 win over Oregon and a 3-1 upset win against Oregon State, notching the Golden Bears' first Pac-12 series sweep since 2010. Over the 180 minutes of play, Cal only allowed one goal and that came with two minutes to play in Sunday's 3-1 upset victory over No. 12 Oregon State. In the game against OSU, Emi Lawson had the assist on the game-winning goal. Additionally, thanks to Lawson's defensive prowess, Cal was able to out shoot the Beavers 25-7.
Mercik Named Athlete of the Week
Rachel Mercik played a key role in California winning two games this weekend, making her this week's California Muscle Milk Student-Athlete of the Week. Mercik scored the game-winning goal to lead her No. 19 Bears past No. 12 Oregon State 3-1 on Sunday afternoon. Over two games - and two wins - against the Oregon schools, Mercik tallied four shots and one goal for two points. The score was Mercik's first of the year.
Road Warriors
Cal has performed exceptionally well away from home this season - boasting a 4-0 record. To date, the Bears have wins at Pacific (3-0, Aug. 17), Cal Poly (4-1, Aug. 31), UC Davis (2-1 in double overtime, Sept. 7) and, most recently, Nevada (3-0, Sept. 23). On the road, Cal is outscoring its opponents 12-2.
In the Rankings
In the Top Drawer Soccer poll, Cal rose four spots to No. 15. The Soccer Times poll has not been updated though the Bears were unranked in last week's edition. For the first time since week one, Cal is receiving votes in the NSCAA rankings. Colorado is unranked in all of the polls. Utah is receiving votes in the NSCAA poll.
The All-Time Cal-Colorado Series: 2-1-0
10/31/87 Neutral W 1-0
9/1/96 Home W 2-0
10/21/11 Home L 1-0
Last Time Against Colorado
Cal dropped a 1-0 decision to Colorado on Oct. 21, 2011 at Edwards Stadium in Berkeley. Despite holding a 20-10 advantage in shots and controlling possession throughout, the Bears fell behind on a score by the Buffaloes in the 62nd minute and searched feverishly for the equalizer with several near goals, but came up short in the contest. The loss snapped a three-match unbeaten streak for the Bears, who were held scoreless for just the fourth time in 16 matches that season.
The All-Time Cal-Utah Series: 4-0
8/30/97 Home W 5-2
9/18/98 Neutral W 4-0
9/25/05 Away W 1-0 (2OT)
10/23/11 Home W 2-0
Last Time Against Utah
Danielle Brunache and Mekenna DeBack powered then-No. 15 Cal to a 2-0 victory over Utah on Oct. 23, 2011 in front of 642 fans on Senior Day at Edwards Stadium. DeBack put the Bears up with a goal just before halftime and Brunache, the senior defender, capped Senior Day with a goal off a penalty kick in the 84th minute. Cal dominated possession throughout, out-shooting Utah, 21-2 overall. Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Kruger was rarely tested, en route to her sixth shutout and the team's eighth shutout of the season. The eight shutouts were the most since an 11-shutout season in 2007. The Bears finished their 2011 regular-season home schedule with a 6-2-1 mark.
Next Week on the Pitch
It's a one-game outing for the Bears next weekend. Cal heads to Tempe, Ariz. for an Oct. 12 match-up with the Sun Devils.
First RPI Issued
In the inaugural edition of the RPI, Cal is No. 57. Thirteen of Cal's 2012 opponents are ranked in the top 85. The power of the Pac-12 is further illustrated in this ranking system with all 12 schools in the top 85. Cal has already faced several top teams including No. 9 Missouri and No. 14 Santa Clara. Stanford paces the country and Pac-12 with its No. 1 ranking while UCLA is fourth. The Women's Soccer RPI will be released every Monday evening through October 29. The next release will be Monday, Oct. 1
McGuire Takes Over Second Place
With 12 victories last season and five this year, head coach Neil McGuire now has 62 career wins in his six seasons with the Golden Bears. Last year, McGuire's victory against USC on Oct. 9, 2011 moved him past Andy Bonchonsky (1991-96) and into third place on the school's all-time coaching victories list. With the win over UC Davis on Sept. 7 to bring his Cal career total to 62, McGuire is now the sole owner of second place. McGuire displaced Bill Merrell, who posted a 61-20-8 record from 1983-85.
Bears Limit USF to One Shot
Cal came into the Sept. 2 game against San Francisco taking 19.8 shots per game to their opponents 8.6, but they took that one step further. Cal limited the Dons to just one shot in 90 minutes with the Bears firing off 17 shots. USF's lone shot came in the first half, when the Bears tallied 13. Two of Cal's four second-half shots resulted in goals.
Leer Named Aug. 21 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
After singing the national opener for the home opener against San Jose State on Aug. 19, Grace Leer scored a hat trick to power the Bears to a 5-2 win, making her the first Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week. With the three goals, Leer ups her previous career goal count of two to five. After SJSU struck first, Leer equalized with her first goal of the game. With the teams tied 2-2, with just three minutes on the clock before halftime, Leer scored twice to give Cal a 4-2 first-half advantage. With her team down 1-0, and with fresh legs - subbing in just two minutes prior - Grace Leer scored her first goal of the year. Fitzpatrick crossed the ball in from the far side, and Leer collected the loose ball in the six-yard box and fired it in. In the 42nd minute, and flanked by multiple SJSU bodies and the SJSU keeper, Leer found her footing and waited for the perfect moment, when she flicked the ball in. Then, with the 10-second countdown well underway and audible, Leer fired off a shot from six yards out, sending the Bears into the half with a two-goal lead.
Five Goals Best in 15 Games
The five goals scored against San Jose State on Aug. 19 were the most Cal had scored in 15 games. Cal's most recent goal explosion of five goals or more occurred in a 6-1 win over San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2011.
Freshman Pair Score First Goals
In their very first weekend of play, freshmen Celeste Boureille and Ifeoma Onumonu both scored their inaugural career goals. Boureille got her Cal career off on the absolute best foot, scoring the Bears' first goal of the season and her first in the Blue & Gold with a strike in the 44th minute. Her goal was the ultimate gamewinner in the eventual 3-0 victory over Pacific on Aug. 17. In the 55th minute of the Aug. 19 game against San Jose State, Onumonu scored in front of the goal with Kory Lamet assisting.
Cal Opens Season With Two Wins
The Bears began 2012 on a serious high note - defeating Pacific 3-0 on Aug. 17 in Stockton, Calif., and then besting San Jose State 5-2 in the home opener on Aug. 19. Cal is now 25-5-1 in the program's history of season openers. Additionally, the Bears have won 15 of their past 17 lid lifters.
International Golden Bears
Returning to Berkeley freshly off the international pitch are senior midfielder Betsy Hassett and junior defender Ariana Martinez. After playing in last summer's FIFA World Cup, Hassett rejoined the New Zealand National Team for the London Olympics. Last season in Berkeley, Hassett played in all 22 matches with 18 starts in the midfield and was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection. Martinez - who is also a member of the Mexican Senior National Team - played in this summer's U-20 World Cup in Japan as part of the Mexican squad. Martinez transferred to Cal from UCLA and will have two years of eligibility left in Berkeley.
Join the Bears in the Social Media Realm
This season, fans of the prestigious California women's soccer team can get even closer to the Golden Bears - through Facebook, Twitter and the Cal Athletics YouTube channel. By following the California women's soccer team on its social media, fans can get even closer to the team, get breaking-news alerts, see photos and get other inside information. The Cal women's soccer Facebook page features links to CalBears.com stories, polls, insider photos as well as YouTube videos highlighting the Bears. Cal women's soccer Twitter is the best place to find game results, links to stories as well as photos and other insider information. Additionally, Cal women's soccer videos will be posted on the Cal Athletics YouTube channel and then linked on social media.
Remembering Last Season
In 2011, Cal won 12 matches - its most since 2007 - and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship. The Bears, who climbed as high as No. 11 in the national rankings during the year, knocked off Santa Clara on the road in the opening round of NCAAs and nearly advanced to the third round of the tournament, falling to No. 16 Boston College in penalty kicks. Four Bears earned All-Pac-12 honors - Danielle Brunache, Betsy Hassett, Lauren Battung and Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick - and a record 13 individuals were named to the Pac-12 All-Academic team, with Hassett also gaining NSCAA Scholar All-American recognition.
A Look at Cal's Schedule
All but two of Cal's home matches (Santa Clara and Washington State) this fall will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks. The 2012 slate features 10 home contests at Edwards Stadium/Goldman Field, with eight set to be televised by the conference's new networks. The demanding fall slate includes five teams - Oregon State, Santa Clara, Stanford, UCLA and Washington State - that earned a berth in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, including the defending NCAA champion Cardinal.
Pac-12 Coaches Predict Cal to Finish Third
The Conference coaches foresee Cal taking third place in the Pac-12, according to the preseason poll. The third-place slating equals the 2007 predication, which was the highest forecast in the past six years. The 12 coaches selected defending national champion Stanford as the preseason favorite.
Cal's Morgan, U.S. Win Gold by Beating Japan
Former Golden Bear Alex Morgan and the U.S. Women's National Team defeated Japan 2-1 to win gold on Aug. 9 at the London Olympics. Morgan - a four-year letterwinner with Cal - assisted on the Americans' first goal. Morgan scored thrice - including one gamewinner - over the course of the London Games, which were the Diamond Bar, Calif., native's first Olympic outing. She had played in the 2011 FIFA World Cup, taking silver with the Americans.
A Golden Olympics for the Golden Bears
A total of 46 Golden Bear athletes, coaches and staff members represented Cal during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and together, they brought home a school-record-tying 17 medals (11 gold, 1 silver, 5 bronze). The Bears have won 50 medals over the past three Olympics (16 in 2004, 17 in 2008, 17 in 2012), and they have captured 178 medals all-time (99 gold).
Cal No. 1 Public University in the Country
The University of California is the No. 1-ranked public university in the United States, according to U.S. News and World Report. The faculty has won 22 Nobel Prizes, including nine current members, while 28 alumni have received a Nobel Prize. A National Research Council analysis of U.S. universities concluded that the campus has the largest number of highly ranked graduate programs in the country (48 of 52). Cal also has a long commitment to public service, with more than 4,000 students annually doing volunteer work and more than 3,000 Peace Corps participants all-time.
The No. 15 California women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to Colorado Friday afternoon at Edwards Stadium in Berkeley, Calif.
