Big Game: Cal Lacrosse wraps regular season with loss at Stanford

Friday night update:

Cal’s Eliza Christman set a new program record in draw controls, but the rest of the game did not go the Bears’ way at all.

Stanford won easily on their Senior Day to extend their winning streak over Cal to 18 games. Both team may meet again next weekend in Oregon at the Pac-12 Championships.

GO BEARS!

California Golden Bears Lacrosse (6-10, 3-6 in Pac-12) will close their regular season this afternoon when they visit The Farm to play rival No.19 Stanford. The Pac-12 Tournament will take place in Eugene, Oregon next weekend.

Earlier this season, Cal had a close game against Stanford where the Golden Bears were edged 13-11. This win, unfortunately, continues Stanford’s 17 game winning streak over the Bears.

Then again, streaks are meant to be broken, and the 2019 battle tested Cal Bears lacrosse squad could potentially pull off the biggest upset win in program history today. In 2008, Cal also beat then No.19 ranked Oregon Ducks on the road. Coincidentally, the 2008 season was also the last one when the Golden Bears defeated the Stanford Cardinal.

Golden Bears have a pretty solid and balanced attack, led by Kirsten Swanson, who just recently recorded her 100th collegiate goal of her career. Swanson’s 36 goals lead the team, but fellow senior Caroline Corzel is not too far behind with 31 goals. Bears have 4 other players with double digit goals. Nikki Zaccaro has 20 assists to lead the team.

In the faceoff circle, Eliza Christman has been a beast. The senior has 72 draws on the year which is just 4 shy off the Cal program single season record - Christman should reach that plateau this afternoon if not the opening game of the Pac-12 tournament.

Defensively, goalkeeper Jenny Wilkens, another senior, is one of the best in country. She has been tested by having way-too-many shots over the course of her Cal career. Unfortunately, the Cal defense in front of Wilkens is still a bit spotty. Wilkens is 2nd in the Pac-12 with 44 ground balls, which is already good enough for 4th in Cal history.

Yes, this is a senior laden team for head coach Brooke Eubanks. Golden Bears, despite another losing record, are playing much better than the past few seasons. There is no better way to close the regular season than to snap that Stanford’s winning streak this afternoon.

Stanford will be celebrating their seniors prior to this game. Senior Julia Masaro has broke her own program record for draw controls on the season with 93. Sophomore Ali Baiocco leads the team with 46 goals to go with 21 assists; Bears will have a hard time containing her. Fellow sophomore Katherine Gjerstens has 33 goals.

Masaro on defense and Baiocco on offense are the reigning Pac-12 players of the week.

Picked to repeat as Pac-12 champs, Stanford will at best be the 3rd seed at the Pac-12 tournament next weekend.

By the way, the club team Cal Men’s Lacrosse won their Big Game over Stanford by a score of 15-7. Check out the very well made highlight below:

California Golden Bears (6-10, 3-6 in Pac-12)

at

Stanford Cardinal (11-4, 6-3 in Pac-12)

Where: Cagan Stadium (Stanford, CA)

When: 5 pm PT

TV: Pac-12 Networks

GO BEARS!