In its final game before winter break, Cate was downed 5-1 by Grace Brethren in a non-league contest on Wednesday.
Grace Brethren is the defending CIF Division 7 champion and remains No. 1 in the latest rankings.
The Rams played good soccer for stretches, according to head coach Lisa Holmes, but were held accountable for defensive lapses by the experienced Lancers. Grace Brethren led 2-0 at halftime and tacked on two more goals in the second half before Cate broke through.
Isabela Montes de Oca scored Cate’s goal on an unassisted run from her stopper position that she finished from the left side after beating several defenders to take the shot.
Cate goalie Emma Liberman kept the score in check by making seventeen saves.
The Rams are 2-1-1 and will return to the pitch in January.
