Nov. 2, 2001
Boone, N.C. - No. 20 Stanford (11-7) advanced to the finals of the NorPac Tournament with a 1-0 victory Southwest Missouri State (11-8) in the tournament semifinals at Kidd Brewer Stadium on Friday. Melissa Stai scored the game's only goal with 2:42 remaining in the first half when she rebounded her own shot attempt on a penalty corner and put the ball past Southwest Missouri State goalkeeper Jessie Liniger.
"Our team has worked so hard ever since our appearance in the NCAA Tournament last year to get back to this point," said Stai, one of five seniors on this season's Cardinal team. "We want to repeat last year's performance and get back to the NCAA's."
Stanford will play California in the championship game of the NorPac Tournament on Saturday, November 3 (12:30 p.m., ET). The contest will be a rematch of last year's NorPac Tournament finals, a 2-0 Stanford victory. The Cardinal is looking to capture the tournament for the third time in its four-year history. The Golden Bears defeated Pacific, 3-0, in today's other semifinals to earn the right to face the Cardinal.
"Our team is excited to be in the championship game," said Stanford head coach Sheryl Johnson. "We'll do everything in our power to make sure we come away with a victory."
Stanford and California split their two contests this year in the regular season with each team winning on its home turf. The two teams tied for the regular season NorPac West Division title with identical 5-1 league records.
The winner of Saturday's Stanford-California game will host an NCAA Play-In contest versus Quinnipiac on Tuesday, November 6. The Braves won their first Northeast Conference Tournament with a 1-0 victory over Rider on October 28.
Stanford goalkeeper Rebecca Shapiro recorded her seventh shutout of the season and the 22nd of her career in Friday's victory. Shapiro and Southwest Missouri State goalkeeper Jessie Liniger had four saves each.
Stanford finished the contest with a slim 6-5 shot margin over the Bears, including a 6-2 advantage in the first half.