Feb. 22, 2004
STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 3 Stanford women's water polo team won a close back-and-forth game against No. 4 Long Beach State 8-7 in overtime on Sunday at Avery Aquatic Center. The win improves Stanford's record to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in MPSF action.
The first quarter ended tied 2-2 with Stanford goals from Scotti Shafer and Alison Gregorka, and Long Beach State scores from Cassie Azevedo and Roberta Stewart. The Cardinal held the 49ers scoreless in the second quarter while recording a second score from Shafer and a goal from Katie Hansen.
LBSU opened the third quarter with two quick scores. 49er Angelica Garcia took advantage of a 6-on-5 situation to score after Cardinal Wendy Watkins drew an ejection. Long Beach State tied the game at 4-4 less than 30 seconds later as Drue Wawrzynski scored as Stanford's Meridith McColl left the goal to attempt a steal.
Stanford rallied to take the lead 5-4 on a Laurel Champion goal. The quarter would wrap up tied at 5-5 following a second score from Wawrzynski.
Stanford and Long Beach would each score again, so after four quarters of regulation play, the Cardinal were tied with the 49ers 6-6. Stanford held LBSU scoreless in the first three-minute overtime, while the Cardinal recorded goals from Watkins and Hannah Luber to pull ahead 8-6.
The first Stanford overtime score came following an offensive foul on Long Beach State that turned the ball over to the Cardinal. At 1:52, Watkins made good on a power backhand from two meters off a Champion pass. The ball was again turned over to Stanford in the final 42 seconds of play in the initial overtime period as time expired on the LBSU shot clock. Watkins passed to H. Luber at four meters who scored off the left crossbar at the 0:25 mark.
In the second three minutes of overtime, 49er Wawrzynski was able to score from two meters, but the goal wasn't enough to pull ahead of Stanford who took the victory 8-7.
Stanford next competes at the UC Santa Barbara Tournament on Feb. 28-29.
Stanford 8, Long Beach State 7
Stanford 221120=8
LBSU203101=7
Stanford Scorers: Shafer (2), Watkins (2), Gregorka (1), Champion (1), H. Luber (1), Hansen (1)
LBSU Scorers: Wawrzynski (3), Garcia (2), Azevedo (1), Stewart (1)
Goalie Saves: McColl (Stan) 6; Hawkins (LBSU) 9