California (0-1, 0-1 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) opens its home schedule against No. 19 Ohio State, as ranked by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association poll, on Friday, Feb. 26 and five-time defending NCAA champion and top-ranked Northwestern on Sunday, Feb. 28 at Memorial Stadium. The Bears, who have a 3-4 record in the all-time series with the Buckeyes, hosts Ohio State (1-1, 0-0 American Lacrosse Conference) at 3 p.m. on Friday, while the Bears, who are 0-6 all time against Northwestern, welcomes the Wildcats (1-0, 0-0 ALC) at noon on Sunday.
The Bears also hosted both opponents last year, falling to Ohio State, 18-5, on March 24 and to Northwestern, 21-4, on April 5. Cal had a three-game winning streak over the Buckeyes from 2004-06, including upsets over then-nationally ranked Ohio State in 2004 and 2005.
Scouting the Golden Bears
Cal started the season with a 12-10 setback at fellow MPSF team UC Davis, falling to the Aggies, 12-10, for the first time since 2001. The loss snapped the Bears’ 13-game winning streak over its UC rival. Cal senior midfielder Alyse Kennedy led all scorers with five points (3 goals, 2 assists). Sophomore attacker Allie Welsh also scored a hat trick for the Bears, while junior goalkeeper Allie Shropshire made 10 saves against the Aggies.
Theresa Sherry is in her third year as Cal’s head coach. Northwestern was the first-ever opponent for Sherry in the 2008 season opener in Berkeley. The feisty Bears lost, 16-9, in what is still the closest game in the all-time series.
Scouting the Buckeyes
Twentieth-ranked William and Mary upset then-No. 16 Ohio State, 15-14, on Feb. 14 in Williamsburg, Va., in Ohio State’s season opener. (Cal plays at William and Mary on March 24) The Buckeyes rebounded to beat American, 16-7, on Feb. 20 in Columbus. Kelly Haggerty led the Buckeyes in scoring (6 points from 4 goals, 2 assists) against American, while Alayna Markwordt collected five points (4 goals, 1 assist) against the Eagles. Goalkeeper Annie Carruthers made seven saves in less than 48 minutes of work against American.
Haggerty, who led OSU with six points (3 goals, 3 assists) against William and Mary, leads her team in points (12) and assists (5) and is tied with Markwordt for the team high in goals (7). Carruthers, who made 17 saves in 60 minutes against William and Mary, has a 10.63 GAA in two starts.
Sue Stimmel is in her 15th season as head coach of Ohio State.
Scouting the Wildcats
Northwestern, which defeated Massachusetts, 18-6, in its Feb. 6 season opener in San Diego, will play at Stanford on Feb. 26 before battling Cal on Feb. 28. Sophomore midfielder/attacker Shannon Smith led Northwestern in scoring against UMass, with a career high six goals, three assists and nine points. Senior midfielder Danielle Spencer, a 2009 IWLCA second-team All-American, added five goals for the Wildcats. Northwestern outshot UMass, 37-14, and starting sophomore goalkeeper Brianne LoManto made three saves in less than 39 minutes of action.
The Wildcats boast amazing talent, including All-American attacker Katrina Dowd, the 2009 NCAA championship MVP, and sophomore midfielder Alexandra Frank. The latter collected 63 draw controls for a 2009 NU squad that led the nation in draws.
Kelly Amonte Hiller, a three-time IWLCA Coach of the Year, is in her ninth season as Northwestern head coach. She led the Wildcats to a 21-1 record in 2009.
Next Time
Cal hosts non-conference opponent Davidson at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2 at Memorial Stadium.
http://www.calbears.com/sports/w-lacros/spec-rel/022210aaa.html
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