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Bente Baekers, a Cal field hockey transfer from the Netherlands, had accomplished almost everything a player could dream of before arriving at Berkeley and winning its first conference title since 2006. Previously at Northwestern, she was a perennial All-American and won a NCAA Division I National Championship. Her playing career has spanned oceans and experiences she wouldn’t trade for anything.
In its first match of the 2023 NCAA field hockey tournament, Cal lost to Miami University Ohio for the second time this season, ending the Bears' brief stint in the tournament.
The Bears forged a path of dominance, and after three matches in four days that included two overtime sessions, they pulled away with their first-ever America East Conference crown.
Cal field hockey is truly peaking before the America East Conference tournament: five straight wins, an overall healthy roster and a group that considers itself a family. It will ultimately have to win the conference championship to qualify for the NCAA tournament.