Feb. 24, 2002
Santa Barbara, Calif. - After upsetting the defending National Champion UCLA Bruins two weeks ago to win the Stanford Invitational, the top-ranked Stanford women's water polo team handed No. 2 UCLA a 6-5 overtime loss to win the Gaucho Invitational on Sunday in Santa Barbara.
The Cardinal used a late goal in regulation by sophomore Wendy Watkins (Modesto, CA) to tie the score at 4-4 and send the game into overtime. UCLA's Thalia Munro struck first in the extra period, but Stanford's Margie Dingeldein (Merced, CA) scored with :03 left in the second overtime to send the game into sudden death. In the third extra period, Villa's second goal of the day proved to be the game and tournament winner for the Cardinal.
Villa and Dingeldein each recorded two goals, while Julie Gardner (Atherton, CA) and Watkins both added a score in the championship game for Stanford.
Earlier in the day, the Cardinal defeated Cal 9-4 in the semifinal match. Following a 1-1 tie at the end of the first quarter, Stanford's offense came to life and recorded four goals before halftime to lead 5-1. The Bears made a run in the final quarter, scoring three times but the Cardinal answered with two more scores of their own.
Villa led the offensive attack, scoring four goals against Cal. Senior Ellen Estes (Novato, CA) tallied two scores for the Cardinal.
Stanford remains perfect at 8-0 on the year, after winning both the Stanford and Gaucho Invitationals. The Cardinal will open up MPSF play next weekend on the road at UC Santa Barbara on Saturday and UCLA on Sunday. Both games are set to start at noon.
Semifinal Game
1 2 3 4 Final
Cal 1 0 0 3 4
Stanford 1 4 2 2 9
Scoring --- Cal: Lindy Spieker 2, Cara Chlebicki Stanford: Brenda Villa 4, Ellen Estes 2, Margie Dingeldein, Julie Gardner, Wendy Watkins.
Championship Game
1 2 3 4 OT Final
UCLA 1 2 0 1 1 5
Stanford 1 1 0 2 2 6
Scoring --- UCLA: Amber Strachowski 2, Thalia Munro, Kelly Heuchan, Natalie Golda Stanford: Brenda Villa 2, Margie Dingeldein 2, Julie Gardner, Wendy Watkins.