New Year, Same Mindset: Bears Ready for Preseason

Bears Kick Off Preseason with Home Opener

The California field hockey team is back on the field for the 2023 season as they prepare for their preseason opener at home against the University of the Pacific on Saturday. Despite facing a challenging 2022 campaign, the Bears have a renewed sense of optimism heading into the new year and are determined to make a strong start in their preseason.

Key Takeaways

• The Bears are coming off a tough 2022 season but are eager to improve in 2023.
• The team will rely on a strong core of returning players and talented newcomers.
• The Bears will face a tough test in their preseason opener against the University of the Pacific.

Building on a Strong Foundation

The Bears return several key players from last season, including senior goalkeeper Amanda Smith and junior forward Hannah Zhao. Smith was named to the All-Pac-12 team last season, while Zhao led the team in scoring with 10 goals.

In addition to their returning players, the Bears have also added several talented newcomers to the roster. Freshman forward Kaira Singh is a highly touted recruit who is expected to make an immediate impact.

Looking Ahead to the Preseason

The Bears will open their preseason schedule on Saturday, August 26th, against the University of the Pacific. The game will be played at the California Memorial Stadium at 12 pm PT.

The Bears will then travel to Stanford on September 2nd to face the Cardinal in their second preseason game. The team will then open their regular season on September 9th at home against the University of Massachusetts.

Quotable

"We're excited to get back on the field and compete," said head coach Shellie Onstead. "We have a great group of players who are working hard and are determined to have a successful season."

"We're looking forward to the challenge of facing Pacific in our preseason opener," said senior defender Mia Smith. "We know they're a tough opponent, but we're confident that we can play well and get the win."