May 8, 2000
STANFORD, CA - After a season that went back and forth between victories and upsets, the women's lacrosse team closed the season, and their time in the Western Women's Lacrosse League, with a bang.
After defeating Cal-Berkeley in the first round of the playoffs, the Cardinal went on to beat UCLA 13-9 in the WWLL Final Four, and UC-Davis 12-9 in the championship game. Though Stanford was ranked 3rd going into the Tournament, they proved unstoppable and affirmed their position as the best the West Coast has to offer for women's lacrosse.
For three years in a row the Cardinal has won the WWLL, and they are happy to have a winning season to carry them into next year, when they will play an independent schedule. Leaving league play they will compete with qualifying for the NCAA tournament as their eventual goal.
On Saturday, against the Bruins, the Cardinal came out to dominate, out-shooting and out-defending their opponents from Los Angeles. Sophomores Emily Rodriguez and Liz Britt each recorded three goals, and Caroline Osterwise provided three assists. Goalkeeper Rachael Neumann backed up the defense by saving 15 of 24 shots on goal and the overall team effort was 100%. In the final game against Davis the Cardinal had to pull out all the stops, they were facing the #1 seed, who they had lost to twice already this season.
Freshman Liz Lanese led the team on offense, scoring six goals. After sitting out during Saturday's game with a stress-fracture, she came back on Sunday to start and power the team to victory. With the championship to close the season, the Cardinal end s at 14-10 looking forward to an independent schedule and the return of a young team with the potential to become an important player on the national lacrosse scene.
| 5/6: | 1 | 2 | ||
| Stanford | 6 | 7 | = | 13 |
| UCLA | 4 | 5 | = | 9 |
UCLA scorers - Jonasson 3, Williams 2, Bork 1, Lee 1, Sims 1, Stunes 1
Saves - Neumann (S) 15
| 5/7: | 1 | 2 | |||
| Stanford | 8 | 4 | = | 12 | |
| UC-Davis | 4 | 5 | = | 9 |
UC-Davis - Breyer 4, Stonebarger 3, Buser 1, Shargel 1
Saves - Neumann (S) 11