No. 3 UCLA Stops No. 14 Cal State-Chico 10-7 in Final Day 1 Game at 2009 National Collegiate Club Championship

Rachel Bone

DAVIS, Calif. --  Desiree Wilson (So.., La Vern, Calif.) registered three goals, while Suzanne Bunke (Jr., Palos Verdes, Calif.),  Samantha Ellis (So., Sunnyvale, Calif.) and Adele Young (So., Long Beach, Calif.) chipped in pairs of goals, as No. 3 University of California-Los Angeles handled No. 14 California State University-Chico 10-7 in the final game on Day 1 of the 2009 National Collegiate Club Championship at UC-Davis.

UCLA never trailed in the game opening leads of 1-0 and 2-1 before Cal State-Chico came back to tie the game at 2-2 with a goal by Stephanie Wells (Sr., San Jose, Calif.) at the 4:17 mark of the first period.

The Bruins retook the lead 16 seconds later with a marker by Wilson to start a five goal scoring string which ran until 42 seconds to go in the first half as UCLA carried a 7-2 lead into halftime.

Chico chipped away at the deficit with goals by Natalie Di Mora (Gr., Lompoc, Calif.), Melanie McBroom (So., Ripon, Calif.) with 6:27, 5:35 and 3:18 remaining in the period, respectively, to pull within 7-5.

However, Bunke took over the remainder of the period placing three shots on goal and scoring on two of the tries with tallies at 1:00 and 22 seconds to push the Bruins' lead back to four goals at 9-5.

Bunke's goals were critical as the Wildcats came back with scores by Courtney Lee (So., Piedmont, Calif.) and Corina Berrios (So., Sacramento, Calif.) at 2:59 and 2:01 of the fourth period to trim the deficit to 9-7, but her tallies made the lead insurmountable.

Ellis cushioned the lead in the final seconds of the game with a tally at the 12 seconds mark for the 10-7 final.

Between the pipes, Rachel Bone (So., Citrus Heights, Calif.) earned Player of the Game honors and the win for UCLA, while Amy Crawford (So., Sacramento, Calif.) blocked away eight shots for Cal State-Chico.

UCLA will continue the tournament on Saturday, May 2 at 4:00 p.m. versus No. 17 Boston College for a shot at a berth in the ninth place game, while Chico will meet No. 18 New York University with the winner clinching a share of 13th place in the final standings with the loser claming a share of 15th place.

UCLA Goals: Desiree Wilson (3); Suzanne Bunke (2); Samantha Ellis (2); Adele Young (2); Alexandra Neste

Chico Goals: Melanie McBroom (2); Natalie Di Mora; Corina Berios; Courtney Lee; Jessica Wellman; Strephanie Well

Saves: UCLA - Rachel Bone (11) ; Chico - Amy Crawford (8) 

Ejections: UCLA - 3 ; Chico - 9

Sprints: UCLA - 4 (Samantha Ellis - 1st & 2nd ; Deisree Wilson - 3rd; Michelle Conte - 4th) ; Chico - None