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Next Game:
at Stanford
4/16/2026 | 6:00 PM
Apr. 16 (Thu) / 6:00 PM
at Stanford
BERKELEY – The 7 members of Cal’s 2026 senior class – Annette Ciupek, Brynn Gallagher, Avery Hoeft, Josie Lillquist, Clara Page, Chloe Rand and Courtney Wong – played their final game at California Memorial Stadium on Saturday in a 10-5 loss to ACC foe Virginia Tech.
The game did not have a lot of scoring but the afternoon did have a taste of just about everything else, including heavy rain and winds mixed in with a spot or two of sunshine, and an emotional postgame ceremony.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this group of seven seniors,” said Cal head coach Jennifer Wong. “They’ve given everything to this program. Their work ethic, resilience, and the way they’ve shown up for each other and this team every single day has been phenomenal. They’ve set a standard that will last well beyond this season. Senior Day is always emotional, but it’s also a celebration of everything they’ve accomplished. I’m grateful for who they are and what they’ve meant to us, and I’m really looking forward to spending one more week together.”
Cal (6-10, 1-8 ACC) closes its 2026 season at No. 12 Stanford (11-3, 7-2 ACC) on Thursday. First draw is slated for 6 pm on ACCNX/ESPN+.
Virginia Tech (9-7, 3-6 ACC) scored the game’s only first-period goal when Sarah Murrell struck unassisted with 12:34 to go. Murrell came back with another goal with 12:56 remaining in the second on an assist from Reese Wallich before back-to-back Cal goals from Lillquist (11:30) and Katie Bloomer (10:33) over a 57-second stretch on assists from Alina Hsu and Hoeft pulled the Bears even at 2-2 with 10:33 remaining.
The game remained tied until Lauren Rinder put the Hokies back on top 3-2 with 7:11 to go in the third. But Jane Middleton’s unassisted goal that took advantage of a Virginia Tech green card evened the score again at 3-3. The contest looked to be headed to the break tied but Maggie Flanagan scored on a Murrell assist only eight ticks before intermission.
Virginia Tech then came out and dominated nearly the entire second half by scoring all three of the game’s third-period goals and the first three of the fourth before Wong and Meaghan Lynch scored the final two of the game.
Render had a hat trick and an assist to lead Virginia Tech, while Murrell tallied two goals and one assist. Pozzi and Follet also each added two goals, and Cassandra Montgomery picked up two points on a goal and an assist.
Hoeft was the only Cal player with multiple points on a pair of assists that were her team and career-high 21st and 22nd of the season.
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