May 11, 2003
San Diego, Calif. - Stanford (21-3) lost a close 4-3 match to UCLA (23-4) in today's NCAA Championship match in Canyonview Pool on the campus of UC San Diego. The Bruins outscored the Cardinal 4-1 in the second half en route to their second NCAA title.
After six minutes of scoreless play in the first quarter, Stanford's Lauren Faust stole the ball at the Bruins' seven-meter line, starting a play in which Julie Gardner drew an ejection from Robin Beauregard at 2-meters. After working the ball around on the advantage situation, junior Wendy Watkins fired a hard shot from the top of the perimeter to give the Cardinal a 1-0 lead with 50 seconds left in the period.
With 2:30 left in the second quarter, after Jackie Frank made a huge save on a strong Beauregard shot, Brenda Villa took the outlet pass and flipped it to Gardner. The senior-co-captain then beat her defender and UCLA keeper Jaime Hipp for the Cardinal's second score of the match. Frank made another huge save with 17 seconds left in the first half on a 6-on-5 shot by the Bruins to keep the Cardinal in front with a 2-0 lead at the break.
The Bruins stayed feisty, though, and Kelly Rulon netted the first UCLA goal only 52 seconds into the third quarter to cut the Cardinal lead in half. The Bruins pulled even with the Cardinal with 52 seconds left in the third as Jessica Lopez took a cross-pool pass from Kelly Rulon for an man-up goal.
With 4:49 left in the fourth quarter, UCLA converted its second 6-on-5 situation as Lauren Heineck took a pass in the hole and rocketed the shot into the back of the net for the Bruins first lead of the day at 3-2. With 2:50 remaining in the game, UCLA extended its lead to 4-2 as Robin Beauregard scored her first goal of the day. But Stanford stayed in the game as Villa brought the ball up the length of the ppol and found sophomore Kelty Luber, who chalked up her first of the day with 1:40 left to bring the Cardinal within one.
The Cardinal had a chance to tie things up as Stanford drew a 6-on-5 with one minute left in the match, but UCLA stole a pass and the Bruins were able to hold the ball until only seven seconds remained. Villa's last second shot went wide of the cage and time expired with UCLA in possession of the ball.
Game Summary
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Stanford Scorers: Julie Gardner 1, Kelty Luber 1, Wendy Watkins 1.
UCLA Scorers: Robin Beauregard 1, Lauren Heineck 1, Jessica Lopez 1, Kelly Rulon 1.
Goalie Saves:Jackie Frank (Stanford) 8; Jaime Hipp (UCLA) 6.
6-on-5: Stanford 1-6; UCLA 2-5.