'Cats Ousted From AE Tourney With 2-1 Loss to Cal

Thursday, November 7

West Long Branch, NJ

11 AM

University of New Hampshire

(8-10 (2-3AE))

University of California

(8-10 (1-3AE))

CAL

New Hampshire

11/7/2019 2:02:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Bloem van den Brekel (Eindhoven, Netherlands) scored a goal and Jemma Woods (Frimley, England) made seven saves, but the University of New Hampshire field hockey team was edged 2-1 by the University of California in Thursday's America East quarterfinal game at Monmouth University's So Sweet A Cat Field.

UNH, which finished third in the America East East Division to earn the tourney #4 seed, ends the year at 8-10. Cal, the tourney #5 seed as the second seed out of the West Division, improves to 8-10 and advances to play Monmouth.

1^st QUARTER

UNH generated an excellent scoring chance in the 11^th minute, when van den Brekel ripped a low shot from the top-left of the circle that was deflected aside by Cal goalie Cato Knipping.
One minute later at the other end of the field, Woods denied Katrina Carter's bid from the middle of the circle.
Cal recorded a 4-1 shot advantage in the scoreless first quarter.

2^nd QUARTER

van den Brekel gave UNH a 1-0 lead at 16:37. A breakaway down the right wing produced a 1-v-1 situation with Knipping. van den Brekel entered the circle at the top-right, pulled the ball to the right to sidestep the charging goalie and then shot the ball into the open cage.
With one minute of the clock, Finn Caron (Hampton, N.H.) blasted a shot from the top of the circle through traffic and barely wide of the left post.
New Hampshire recorded a 4-2 shot advantage in the second quarter.

3^rd QUARTER

UNH generated a corner 90 seconds into the second half, and a rising shot from the top of the circle off van den Brekel's sailed wide left.
In the 36^th minute, Woods stood strong with three successive saves. She made a sliding save against Maddie Cleat, then denied her again off the rebound. On the second rebound, Woods kicked away Brynn Zorilla's shot.

4^th QUARTER

Cal scored goals 62 apart to quickly convert a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead.
The Golden Bears converted a corner into a goal and tie score, 1-1, on a goal by Lindsay Mathison at 52:43.
Megan Rodgers deflected Mathison's shot over Woods to give Cal a 2-1 lead at 53:45.
UNH pulled Woods in favor of an extra field player with 56 seconds remaining, but the Wildcats were unable to generate another shot the rest of the way.

SENIOR SALUTE

The end of the 2019 season marked the end of UNH careers for three Wildcat seniors – Nicky Bajus (Lions Bay, British Columbia), Bailey Fanikos (Lynnfield, Mass.) and Kayla Sliz (Ajax, Ontario).

CONFERENCE AWARDS

Four Wildcats recorded a total of seven America East accolades on the eve of the tournament.
Freshman back Maura Verleg (Geldrop, Netherlands) was named Rookie of the Year; she was also selected to the East Division All-Conference First Team and All-Rookie Team.
van den Brekel was also named to the First Team.
Sliz and Fanikos were both named to the East Division All-Conference Second Team.
Sliz was voted to the All-Academic Team for the second consecutive year.

UNH NOTEBOOK

UNH has a 4-3 lifetime record against Cal, and that includes 1-1 in the America East quarterfinals.
New Hampshire had a 5-0 record during the regular season when the Wildcats scored first.
UNH was 6-2 in regular-season games decided by one goal.

SHOTS: UNH 1-4-2-3–9. CAL 4-2-3-4–13.

PENALTY CORNERS: UNH 0-1-1-1–3. CAL 1-0-0-1–2.

GOALS
UNH (1) – Bloem van den Brekel
CAL (2) – Lindsay Mathison, Megan Rodgers

ASSISTS
UNH (0)
CAL (2) – Femke Delissen, Lindsay Mathison

SAVES
UNH: Jemma Woods 2-1-3-1–7 (59:04; 2 GA) [loss]
CAL: Cato Knipping 1-1-0-0–2 (60:00; 0 GA) [WIN]

DEFENSIVE SAVES
UNH (0)
CAL (0)