March 7, 2004
STANFORD - Stanford had some fun in the sun today at Avery Aquatics center, with a thorough thrashing of MPSF rival Arizona State. The Cardinal were led by senior Wendy Watkins, who had the required 3 scores for a hat trick. Eight other players also scored for Stanford, as they improved their record to 11-2 and 4-0 in MPSF play.
The Sun Devils came into the game riding a four game losing streak and they did not have much of a chance at breaking that streak today. The Cardinal won for their 10th time in 11 games after starting the season 1-1. There were no stars in today's contest, as Stanford got scores from nine players and the platoon of Meridith McColl and Amanda Matuk made 9 saves in the cage.
Stanford came out roaring, depositing their first score just 27 seconds into the match when Nancy El-Sakkary fought off a double team in the 2-meter zone to slam one into the net. The goals kept on coming for the Cardinal in the first period with Lauren Faust, Scotti Shafer, Chrstina Hewko, Wendy Watkins, and Hannah Luber all scoring during the period. The goals by Faust and Watkins were very impressive, as Faust intercepted a pass in the ASU zone and sprinted down the length of the pool to put in a soft lob over the head of the keeper. Watkins' score came on a scooping backhand attempt from 1-meter out that skipped off the water into the goal.
The Cardinal kept their scoring efforts up during the second period when Kelty Luber took advantage of a 6-on-5 opportunity created by an ejection of ASU's Gili Kollan. The play of the first half came at 4:36 remaining, ASU's Gili Kollan had been ejected and the Sun Devils called a timeout, but immediately following the timeout, Katie Hansen found Alison Gregorka open inside the 2-meter zone and Gregorka pounded home the one-timer goal. With 1:47 left in the first half, ASU found the back of the net for the first time in the afternoon, when a goal by Ashley Bower made the game 9-1.
The second half was fairly scoreless compared to the first, as both teams brought in replacement goalkeepers. The Cardinal played lockdown defense and ASU responded with some good defense of their own. The highlight of the second half was a penalty shot goal by Katie Hedly with 6:12 left in the fourth period. She earned the shot after Shannon Avrett dragged her down in the 2-meter zone on a scoring attempt.
The Cardinal return to action on March 20 when they fly to Hawaii for an MPSF conference match up. They will then return home for an exhibition match against the United States National Team on March 27 at 7:00 PM. The U.S. National Team features five former Stanford players Margie Dingeldein '02, Ellen Estes '02, Jackie Frank '03, Kate Pettit '02, and Brenda Villa '03.
Notes: The 13 Cardinal goals scored today marks only the third time this season they have reached double digits...Wendy Watkins, who failed to score for the first time all season against San Diego State, responded with 3 goals today to increase her team-leading total to 21. She is averaging 1.62 goals per game, which places her in the top 10 in the MPSF conference...The goal by Shannon Avrett in the third period was her first of the season...Watkins' hat trick is her second this season and the fourth by the Cardinal this year.
Game Summary 1234TOTAL Stanford642113 Arizona State01022
Stanford Scorers: Watkins 3, H. Luber 2, Avrett, El-Sakkary, Faust, Gregorka, Hewko, K. Luber, Shafer, Wilson
ASU Scorers: Bower, Hedly, Stevens
Goalie Saves: McColl (Stanford) 3, Matuk (Stanford) 6; Sanderson (ASU) 3, Houck (ASU) 6