Women's field hockey team captures cup

The 37th annual California Cup at Moorpark Community College last weekend was a tournament of redemption for the Cal Poly women’s field hockey club team.

After not capturing the Western Collegiate Field Hockey Conference title in the fall for the first time since the league’s inception in 2004, the Mustangs won the California Cup on Monday, after three years of a third-place finish and two second-place finishes.

“I couldn’t believe we had won after trying so hard for so many years,” Mustangs co-captain Lisa Clark said. “Our team has really bonded throughout the year, which has helped with chemistry on the field.”

Cal Poly seized the title in the competitive division, including squads from throughout California and Canada, as well as WCFHC foes UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis.

The Mustangs’ tournament run, including a victory over WCFHC champion UCSB in the semifinals, hinged largely on a stout defensive effort anchored by goalkeeper Jessie Miller, who allowed just two goals in five matches.

“To have three shutouts in the tournament was amazing,” Clark said.

Cal Poly started pool play Saturday by defeating UC Davis 2-0 and Mulligans of Huntington Beach 3-1. Sunday, the Mustangs returned to rout Lady Birds of Vancouver, British Columbia 5-0, thanks to an offensive flurry spearheaded by a trio of forwards – Alex Dunn, Adele Schopf and Hannah Hartnett.

The victory assured the Mustangs of the No. 1 seed and a rematch with the rival Gauchos, who edged the three-time defending champion Mustangs 1-0 Nov. 17, 2007 in the WCFHC title game.

“They’re our biggest rival and we always seem to play with a little more intensity and step up our game because there is a personal interest,” Clark said.

In a physical match-up, Cal Poly relied on its swarming defense led by Sara Adams and Amber Zimmermann to avenge the defeat with a 1-0 victory setting up a showdown Monday with Fallbrook’s Green Cards, who knocked the Mustangs out of the two previous California Cups.

The final was decided with penalty strokes after regulation ended in a 1-1 tie.

Clark and Susie Condon scored in Cal Poly’s five attempts, but it also amounted to a tie, resulting in sudden-death penalty strokes.

After a block by Miller, Adams snuck one past the opposing goalkeeper to give Cal Poly the cup.

“I busted into tears because I was so happy,” Clark said. “It felt great to finally get on top.”