Katie Smith Scores First Career Goal

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – A pair of goals on penalty corner goals gave Cal the edge it needed for a 3-1 win over the Yale field hockey team Sunday afternoon at Johnson Field. The Bulldogs' goal came from freshman midfielder/forward Katie Smith, her first career goal.

After an emotional 1-0 overtime win vs. Quinnipiac as part of Alumnae Weekend festivities on Saturday, the Bulldogs had to take to the pitch again quickly to face a Cal team that had won its previous two games by a combined score of 5-1.

The Golden Bears struck early Sunday, taking a 1-0 lead on their first penalty corner of the game. Forward Lara Kruggel blasted one high into the upper right corner nine minutes in for her fifth goal of the season.

After that rough start, the Bulldogs settled in. They wound up outshooting the Golden Bears 5-4 for the half -- they had been outshot by a combined total of 29 to 18 in the three previous first halves this season.

Still, it was not until just 1:05 remained in the half that Yale got on the scoreboard. Smith's goal tied the game 1-1, and served as further evidence that she and her twin -- freshman midfielder/forward Lily Smith -- are developing quickly in their first season at Yale.

"That was a beautiful goal, especially getting it right at the end of the half," said Pam Stuper, Yale's Caroline Ruth Thompson '02 Head Coach of Field Hockey. "The twins are really starting to come along."

Cal (4-2, 0-0 NorPac) went back ahead with 32:11 to play on a goal by forward Andrea Earle. The Bears then extended the lead to 3-1 on their second penalty corner goal, this one by defender Clara Goni with only 16:36 remaining.

The Bulldogs called timeout after the third Cal goal and were able to keep the Golden Bears from scoring again, but they could not get anything more past Cal goalkeeper Courtney Hendrickson. She finished with three saves, including a big one on Katie Smith with three minutes to play right after a yellow card on Cal. She also stacked her pads nicely to deny a penalty corner shot by sophomore midfielder Kelsey Nolan early in the second half.

Yale senior goalkeeper Heather Schlesier made four saves, and junior back Noelle Villa had a defensive save.

"Despite the result, I was pleased with our effort," said Stuper. "This was the first time all season that we played a full 70 minutes as a team, sticking to the game plan. The big difference today was that Cal took its opportunities and sunk them. We didn't capitalize."

Yale (1-3, 0-0 Ivy League) opens Ivy play next Saturday at Harvard.

Report by Sam Rubin '95 (sam.rubin@yale.edu), Yale Sports Publicity