Cal Field Hockey vs. Stanford on Pac-12 Networks Open Thread

CALIFORNIA Golden Bears (6-10, 2-3 NorPac) vs. #11 STANFURD Cardinal (13-4, 4-1 NorPac)
Thursday, Oct. 31 | 3 p.m.
Maxwell Family Field | Berkeley, Calif.
Live Stats: www.CalBears.com
Broadcast: Pac-12 Networks

WHY DOES THIS GAME MATTER: It's Cal vs. Furd. Big rivalry game. Enough said.

WHO TO WATCH: Lara Kruggel for the Bears. She has team leading 7 goals. Defensively, it should be notedthat the Bears' opponents have outshot them by almost a factor of 2 (244 to 126). That stats make the works of goalie Courtney Hendrickson with her 1.87 goal against average look that much more impressive.

Furd have had 8 shutouts to date. 12 players have scored goals for them, lead by Hope Burke's 8. Goalie Dulce Davies has a 0.86 goal against average.

WHAT IS AT STAKE: Bragging rights. This match is also the regular season finale before the NorPac tournament (when the Bears have to again fly across the country, this time to Lynchburg Virginia). Should the Bears hope to make the NCAA tournament, they would need to win the automatic bid of NorPac, which probably requires beating Furd. A win today would give the team that extra swagger.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Last home game for Maxwell field today. Renovation starts in December. History in the making vs the Card! pic.twitter.com/9i3ArlLePB

— Cal Field Hockey (@CalFieldHockey) October 31, 2013

Bears are 5-2 at home so far this season.

GOAL ON YOU BEARS!