March 10, 2001
The No. 1-ranked and undefeated Stanford women's water polo team defeated No. 4 California today at the Spieker Aquatics Complex, 9-3, as Cardinal Brenda Villa notched four goals in the victory. Stanford improves to 13-0 overall, 2-0 MPSF while the Golden Bears fall to 7-6, 1-2 MPSF.
The game was Stanford's from the start, as Cardinal freshman Brenda Villa scored twice for Stanford in the first quarter, before sophomore Julie Gardner put the Cardinal up 3-0 at the end of the quarter. Cal could not find an open shot against Stanford's pressuring defense, as senior Heather Petri took the only two shots of the quarter, both sailing wide of the cage. Stanford took only three shots, scoring on each one.
In the second quarter, Stanford goalie Jackie Frank was relentless in front of the cage. She recorded four of her 10 saves in the quarter. Junior Julie Arnold tried to get Cal back into the game, however, three of her four shots were blocked by Frank. Villa put Stanford up 5-0, scoring on a 6-on-5 possession and a 4-meter penalty shot. On the last possession of the quarter, Stanford scored on a power play advantage. Anne-Marie Keenan scored her first of two goals with one second remaining in the half, putting the Cardinal up 6-0 at the midway point.
Stanford's Keenan started the second half with a goal at 4:29 in the third quarter, before the Cardinal's Kelly Shouey notched a goal on their next possession.
Stanford maintained the 8-0 lead going into the fourth quarter before Laura Graham put the Bears on the scoreboard, finding the back of the cage on a Cal 6-on-5 possession. Two series later, the Golden Bears scored again but Cal's hopes of making a run on the Cardinal were ended when Stanford's Ellen Estes scored to make it 9-2 in favor of the Cardinal.
Final Statistics
1st2nd3rd4th California0003 Stanford3321
Goals: California--Ericka Lorenz, Laura Graham, Julia Cesnik Stanford--Brenda Villa 4, Anne-Marie Keenan 2, Julie Gardner, Kelly Shouey, Ellen Estes
Saves: California--Fana Fuqua 4 Stanford--Jackie Frank 10