BERKELEY – California played its third straight double overtime match of the season, but this time the Golden Bears lost on a golden goal to Brent Richards and Washington, which prevailed 2-1 on Sunday at Edwards Stadium. John Fitzpatrick scored his team-high fifth goal of the year for the Bears in the first half, while Richards scored both for the Huskies.

 

“Both teams played well today and both teams had their chances to win it,” Cal head coach Kevin Grimes said. “They scored their chance.”

 

Fitzpatrick, a junior forward, scored at 29:22, heading in freshman defender Christian Dean’s cross to give Cal a 1-0 lead.

 

Washington tied the match at 1-1 when Richards scored the first of his two goals at 40:52.

 

Cal outshot the Huskies, 7-3, in the second half, but neither team could score, which led to Cal’s sixth overtime game of the season.

 

The Bears outshot UW, 3-1, in the first overtime, though none of the four shots were on goal.

 

At 101:49 in the second overtime, Cal sophomore goalkeeper Robby Gogatz challenged midfielder Jacob Hustedt, who was running free. But Hustedt eluded Gogatz and crossed to Richards, and the forward headed the ball into an empty net.

 

Gogatz finished with three saves, while UW goalie Spencer Richey collected four saves.

 

Cal played a full 110 minutes in a double-overtime match against Stanford (1-1) on Oct. 9 and in another two-OT game against Oregon State (2-2) at home on Oct. 14.

 

“It’s very frustrating,” freshman midfielder Connor Hallisey said of playing so many extra-time games. “We’ve just got to keep fighting and not let up. Hopefully things will change for us the rest of the season.

 

Next up, the Bears play their last two opponents – Oregon State and Washington – again, this time in the Pacific Northwest. Cal takes on the Beavers on Friday, Oct. 21, in Corvallis, Ore., and plays the Huskies on Sunday, Oct. 23, in Seattle.