California Golden Bears
Overall Rank: #20
Conference Rank: #3 Pac-12 
The Cal Golden Bears come into the 2013 season looking to build off last year’s run to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Bears were a young team in 2012 and bring back a loaded, battle tested team in 2013 that will be ready for all comers. Cal has been very consistent in getting to the postseason under head coach Neil McGuire but now, barring major injury, this team should be primed to go deeper in the NCAA Tournament.
2012 Record: 16-6-0, 8-3-0
2012 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Neil McGuire
Strengths:
It starts with Ifeoma Onumonu up top at forward for Cal. Onumonu was the 2012 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and a Soccer America First Team All-Freshman nationally as well in 2012. Onumonu is a very explosive player that should require double teams in 2013 as she scored 11 goals in 2012 to go with six assists. Complimenting Onumonu in the midfield will be Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick, who had five goals and three assists in 2012 and is a very adept playmaker in setting up quality scoring chances for her teammates. Emily Kruger returns in goal in 2013. Kruger is a senior whose leadership will be very vital to the development of the backline for Cal this season. Kruger has started 56 matches in her career and has spent time in various age group training camps with the United States Women’s National Team.
Weaknesses:
Cal is going to have to shore up things defensively to be able to get into the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight in 2013. They gave up 14 goals in the second half of matches last season to just nine in first halves. The key for Cal to address this issue will be to cut down on the amount of shot opportunities on goal that the opponents get. The Golden Bears’ opponents had nearly 49 percent of their shot attempts on goal versus Cal’s 46 percent. The ability to generate increased possession in the attack will help mitigate this as well for Cal this season.
Final Projection:
This schedule has a good balance for Cal. The non-conference will have great tests against Pepperdine in Malibu on August 26th, which will be a rematch of the 2012 NCAA Tournament first round opener won by the Golden Bears. The annual matchup with Santa Clara in Santa Clara’s Buck Shaw Stadium will be another tremendous test for Cal in preparation for the conference slate. The conference schedule will swing with games at home against UCLA, the Washington road trip, and the battle over at Stanford. The ability to get a few results out of that run of matches will be the difference in Cal winning the league or just finishing in the upper tier of the conference. If the defense can grow and get stronger and another dynamic attacker can be developed offensively, this Cal team should take that next step forward into the Sweet 16 and beyond in the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Ifeoma Onumonu, Sophomore, Forward, 11
Assists: Ifeoma Onumonu, Sophomore, Forward, 6
Shots: Ifeoma Onumonu, Sophomore, Forward, 44
Saves: Emily Kruger, Senior, Goalkeeper, 78
Madness 2013 Women’s Soccer Recruit Rankings:
#32 Arielle Ship
#76 Zoe Clark
#94 Alexa Vandevanter
See All Women's Soccer Top 44 Team Previews
