The California field hockey team had a chance to earn its highest ranked win in recent memory but ultimately fell to No. 2 North Carolina, 5-1, to open ACC play at Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill on Friday evening. Liz Klompaker scored the Golden Bears' (3-3, 0-1) lone goal against the undefeated Tarheels (7-0, 1-1). The goal marked her fifth straight game finding the back of the net.
 
Cal goalkeeper Delphine Ayitey-Hammond was tested often as UNC tallied seven penalty corners but only scored on one of them with Hammond in the net. She finished with three saves on the night. The Bears had chances as well earning six penalty corners on the evening.
 
Klompmaker stole the ball deep in UNC territory at the 11:22 mark in the first period and had a shot attempt that was deflected but led to a penalty corner, but the Bears couldn't take advantage. Cal spent a majority of the first half of the first period in Tarheel backfield to keep the pressure on. North Carolina drew a penalty corner at the 5:40 mark which Hammond was able to defend and earn the save. The Bears were able to block the ensuing shot attempt to keep the game tied at 0-0. The Tarheels got a shot off a loose ball and scored the first goal of the game with about two minutes to go in the first period.
 
Hammond successfully defended UNC's third penalty corner early in the second period. The Tarheels, however, were able to convert on their fourth penalty corner of the night at the 10:23 mark to take a 2-0 lead. Cal earned three consecutive penalty corners with just under nine minutes in the second period and Klompmaker was able to find the back of the net off an input from Holly Pears and an assist from Lieve Schalk. UNC quickly answered off a deflection in front of the net about a minute later to go up 3-1.
 
The Bears had to play with only 10 on the field early in the third period as Maya Hoepfner drew a green card but were able to keep the Tarheels out of the goal until she came back into the game. North Carolina tacked on a fourth goal with :30 left in the third taking advantage of a Josefina Moyano yellow card which she received with three minutes to go in the period.
 
"We were even in goalkeeper saves and were 7-6 in corners, but they converted more corners than we did," Donna Fong Director of Field Hockey Shellie Onstead said. "Not a bad effort with our best quality coming in the first half. We were willing to try a few new things for the long-term payoff, so I am happy with our effort to the end. We are looking forward to the second game of the weekend."
 
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Cal stays on the road to play Duke on Sunday at 10 a.m. PT.
 
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