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In a game interrupted by an on-field fight and two confrontations between the referee and University of San Diego coaches, Cal sophomore Laura Schott shined through the distractions with a hat trick, leading the Bears to a 3-0 win in the championship game of the Golden Gate Classic 

Schott scored once in the first half and twice in the second to lead Cal to its second straight victory and its tenth in 11 games this season. The only blemish on the Bears’ record is a 1-1 tie with perennial women’s soccer power Santa Clara a week ago. 

Schott scored the lone first half goal after 23 minutes of play, taking a nicely placed cross from Brittany Kirk and nudging the ball into the net from three yards out.  

“All I had to do was shield the defender and pretty much tap the ball in,” Schott said. “Brittany gave me a great ball.” 

The first half was played end to end, with both teams counter-attacking with ferocity. Cal players put several shots just over the crossbar, and San Diego goalkeeper Leila Duren also made a nice save on a free kick off the foot of defender Tami Pivnick. 

San Diego squandered several first-half scoring chances, as the front line struggled to hook up on passes. A physical first half of play was an omen, as several hard collisions went uncalled by the referee, and the San Diego defenders fouled Schott four times in the half. A San Diego assistant coach was given a yellow card within the first 20 minutes for yelling at the referee.  

The San Diego coaches kept up a constant stream of abuse at the official, saying he wasn’t calling the game both ways. San Diego head coach John Cossaboon was given a yellow card in the second half as he continued his verbal assault on the referee, and the two had a heated conversation following the game, with Cossaboon telling the official he didn’t keep control of the game. 

With the outcome of the game still in doubt entering the second half of play, Schott put her mind to putting the game away. When teammate Kyla Sabo put a perfect ball past San Diego’s last defender, Schott coolly dribbled around Duren and slotted the ball home, giving the Bears a two-goal lead. 

“Kyla had a couple of people on her, and she still managed to get the ball to me perfectly,” Schott said. “All I had to do was beat the keeper.” 

When Schott streaked past two defenders and again evaded the goalkeeper 15 minutes later for an unassisted goal, the game was safely in Cal’s hands. But San Diego sweeper Marya Young refused to go without a fight. Literally. On an ensuing Cal corner kick, she apparently spit on Cal freshman Ashley Valenzuela, setting off a melee that the referee was unable to stop until nearly all players from both teams were involved. 

Boyd felt the fight was a product of San Diego’s frustration at being on the short end of the score. 

“They were down 3-0, we had been outplaying them the entire game, we got into their box and Young spit on Ashley. She responded with a little language, and (Duren) pushed her, then the player that spit on Ashley punched her, so Ashley punched back.” Boyd said.  

“We don’t have to take punches,” Boyd said. “If we get punched and it’s obvious, we’ll punch back.” 

Boyd also said the San Diego players’ actions reflect on their coaches. 

“They take two yellow cards screaming and yelling, and that attitude is reflected in their team,” he said. 

After cooler heads finally prevailed and the brawl was broken up, Young, Duren and Valenzuela were all issued red cards and sent off the field. 

With a one-player advantage and a three-goal lead, Boyd pulled several starters, including goalkeeper Maite Zabala, and let his reserves knock the ball around the field for the final 25 minutes of the match. 

Zabala said the fight shouldn’t overshadow a good game by the Bears, who struggled to beat Colorado College on Friday. 

“We played really well, and it’s too bad (the fight) had to happen. You never want to see people get kicked out of the game like that,” Zabala said. “We did a good job keeping our composure afterwards and continue to play the game.” 

The Bears will try to extend their unbeaten streak against Washington and Washington State this weekend, as they travel to Pullman on Friday and Seattle on Sunday.