University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
California
UConn Cruises Past California 17-8 on Tuesday
3/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
BERKELEY, Calif. - Four goals apiece from senior Maggie Tripodi (Syracuse, N.Y.) and junior Kelsey Catalano (Stony Brook, N.Y.) lifted UConn past California 17-8 on Tuesday at California Memorial Stadium.
Catalano led the squad with six points followed by Tripodi with five. Freshman Grace Beshlian (Wantagh, N.Y.) finished with a double figure save total for a third consecutive game after stopping 12 shots.
The Huskies are now 3-4 heading into their conference schedule and the Golden Bears extend their losing skid to five games and are now 1-7 overall this season.
Connecticut was consistently in control of the first half as the team maintained at least a three-goal lead for 20 out of the first 30 minutes. The Huskies outscored the Golden Bears 5-1 in the first 10 minutes of the game.
Tripodi had notched a hat trick within the first half and added her fourth in the back half of the game with Catalano netted two in each frame. Senior Molly O'Reilly (South Salem, N.Y.) contributed a pair of goals in the first half.
California battled back in the second half. The Golden Bears outscored the Huskies 4-2 over a span of 23 minutes in the second half, but never came closer than a three-goal deficit. This included an 11 minute scoring drought from both teams.
The UConn offense surged in the last seven minutes of the game where the Huskies scored six unanswered goals to close out the game and come out on top 17-8. Junior Grace Nolan (Marcellus, N.Y.) scored back-to-back in the same minute to finish with a hat trick on the day.
The Huskies outshot the Golden Bears 31-26 overall and 27-20 in shots on goal. Draw controls were even 13-13 between the two. Of California's 26 turnovers, the UConn defense caused over half of them (15).
UP NEXT
The Huskies open Big East Conference play with Florida on Saturday, March 18 when the Huskies return home to the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex. Opening draw is at noon.
