April 29, 2001
HONOLULU, HI - No. 1 Stanford Cardinal (25-0) needed an overtime win over No. 4 Cal (17-8) to advance to title game of the 2001 MPSF Women's Water Polo Championships. Stanford scored the first three goals in overtime to get by Cal, 6-4. In a defensive battle, Cal led 2-1 in overtime, but failed to hold on to the lead.
Julie Gardner scored two goals, one in the overtime period, as the Cardinal improved to a perfect 25-0. Stanford's four other goals were scored by Ellen Estes, Margie Dingeldein, Anne-Marie Keenan, Kate Pettit. Cardinal goalkeeper Jackie Frank collected 10 saves.
The top seeded Stanford Cardinal will face No. 2 UCLA Bruins in the championship game at 9:30pm, PT on Sunday, April 29th at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex. The winner of Sunday's title game will receive an automatic berth to the 2001 NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship, which Stanford is hosting on May 12th-13th at the Avery Aquatic Center.
Stanford has beaten UCLA three previous times this season, winning 7-6, 10-7, and most recently 7-4. While the winner of Sunday's championship game will receive an automatic berth to the 2001 NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship, the losing team will still be in contention for the one remaining at-large berth.
Semifinal #2 1 2 3 4 OT 2OT Final #4 California (17-8) 2 0 1 0 0 1 4 #1 Stanford (25-0) 1 0 2 0 2 1 6
Stanford Goals: Julie Gardner (2), Ellen Estes, Margie Dingeldein,
Anne-Marie Keenan, Kate Pettit
Stanford Saves: Jackie Frank - 10
California Goals: Ericka Lorenz, Julia Cesnik, Julie Arnold, Brenna
Fleener
California Saves: Fana Fuqua - 8