FIELD HOCKEY FALLS TO NO. 16 CAL IN NORPAC FIRST ROUND

Thursday, November 3

Stanford, Calif.

9:30

Radford University

No. 16 California (2W)

Photo by: Tim Cowie

FIELD HOCKEY FALLS TO NO. 16 CAL IN NORPAC FIRST ROUND

11/4/2011 12:49:00 AM | Field Hockey

BOX SCORE

STANFORD, Calif. – Back-to-back goals by No. 16 California broke a 1-1 tie early in the second half as Radford fell in a hard fought and competative first round contest of the NorPac Tournament, 5-2, Thursday evening from Stanford's Varsity Turf Field.

After freshman Ashton Cox (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) tied the contest, 1:53 into the second half, the Golden Bears (14-3) scored four straight goals to come out on top and advance to the semifinals. Along with Cox, senior Niamh Connolly (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) netted a goal for the Highlanders (7-12)

Radford recorded the first five shots of the match and had several opportunities in the first 20 minutes. Following a pair of shots by Madonna Wadolowski (Norwalk, Conn./Brien McMahan) that whistled just past the post, senior Courtney Poole's (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) deflection on a corner hit the crossbar and bounced out of the circle.

Just minutes later, Rachelle Comeau ripped a ball into the net for a 1-0 California lead in the 23rd minute.

The Highlanders evened the score early in the second half when Cox scored on a corner just 1:53 into the stanza. On a corner, she deflected a shot by sophomore Alayna Versage (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox) into the wide-open cage. It was the third goal of season for Cox and the first collegiate assist for Versage. Senior Lynsey Daughtrey (Suffolk, Va./Lakeland) was also credited with an assist, her fifth of the year.

The Bears pulled ahead 3-1 on back-to-back goals on successive corners at 41:53 and 43:34 by Erin Magill and Jordan O'Reilly.

After two more scores by O'Reilly, Connolly (pictured left) closed out the contest's scoring, taking a deflection and roofing a shot from the center of the circle that hit the underneath of the crossbar and fell over the line.

Sophomore keeper Sidney Encarnacion (Williamsburg, Va./Walsingham Academy) made five saves, while Cal's Maddie Hand stopped four shots. The Bears out shot the Highlanders, 15-10 and owned a 8-5 advantage in corners.

Radford will close out its season tomorrow at 9:30 pm when the Highlanders face Pacfic in a consolation game.