Syracuse, N.Y. – Senior midfielder Rhonee Shea Pal (Canastota, N.Y./Bishop Grimes) scored a career-high five goals to lead the Le Moyne College women's lacrosse team to a 9-6 victory over the University of California on Thursday afternoon in its return to the Division I level.

Le Moyne, which went 117-84 during its previous 12 years (1999-2010) at the Division I level, scored the first three goals of the game. Pal got the scoring started at the 9:22 mark by finding the back of the net just before the possession clock expired. Junior attacker Grace Detor (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee) followed two and one-half minutes later by converting a free-position shot to force a Cal timeout. Senior attacker Sarah Hutchings (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus) converted a free-position shot of her own with 48 seconds left for a 3-0 lead.

Cal took advantage of a Le Moyne green card to get on the scoreboard with under four seconds left as Kennedy Mason scored off a feed from Isabel King.

The teams traded goals in the second quarter. The Golden Bears cut their deficit to one 1:40 into the second quarter on Courtney Wong's second goal of the season. Pal answered back two minutes later by finishing off a feed from Hutchings in a player-down situation. Addie Fischer made it a one-goal game for the final time with her second goal of the year with 6:48 remaining in the half. Pal completed her hat trick with 3:37 left after collecting a feed from Detor. Pal pushed the margin to three again with 12 seconds left in the half.

Wong scored the first goal of the third quarter with 8:59 left, but the Dolphins answered back with two goals in a span of 31 seconds. Sophomore attacker Bella Sampo (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) scored off a feed from Hutchings with 7:44 remaining and Pal followed in an extra-player situation at the 7:13 mark.

Mason finished off the scoring in the third quarter with just five seconds left after receiving a pass from Alyssa Studdert.

Kate Rothman pulled the Golden Bears within two with 12:05 remaining in the game after taking a pass in an extra-player situation from Josie Lillquist.

Following six empty possessions by each team over the next almost 12 minutes, Sampo finished off the game's scoring with an extra-player goal with 17 seconds remaining.

Fifth year goalkeeper Paige Crandall (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson) earned her 46th career victory in between the pipes after recording 11 saves. Senior defender Lilly Locastro (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus) tied her career high with five caused turnovers.

Le Moyne (1-0), which improved to 1-2 against the Golden Bears (losses in 2004 and 2007), is back in action on Tuesday against Cornell University at 2:30 p.m.