Feb. 21, 2004
STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 3 Stanford women's water polo team started off their 2004 MPSF season on the right foot with an 8-1 throttling of conference foe No. 13 UC Irvine at Avery Aquatics Center on an overcast, yet windless morning. Five different Cardinal scored on the day with three tallying two goals each. After a five-goal first period gained them much of the momentum, Stanford used stellar defense and quickness to keep the Anteaters away from getting a sniff at the goal for most of the morning.
Stanford wasted no time staking a claim on the lead, jumping out to a 1-0 lead with a 6-on-5 goal by Nancy El-Sakkary. The Cardinal continued the early scoring push, with a second goal from El-Sakkary from two meters. 41 seconds later, Stanford took a 3-0 lead when Hannah Luber took advantage of a pass from the outside wing to record a one-touch goal, prompting UC Irvine to call a timeout. The Cardinal came back and scored two more goals in the first period (Scotti Shafer at 1:47 and Christina Hewko at 1:01). By using good defense to force turnovers, efficient transition offense, and patience in front of the goal to get easy shots, the Cardinal had a 5-0 lead leaving the first period.
After a scoreless second period, which featured some near misses and a much improved UC Irvine defense, Stanford scored again with 2:54 left in the third period on a quick transition goal by Wendy Watkins. Watkins beat out Anteater goalkeeper Suncray Chamblee for a long pass from down the pool for an easy lob from two meters. The Cardinal recorded two goals in the third period as Shafer notched her second score of the day at the 1:49 mark on a cross-cage rocket.
UC Irvine came out thrashing in the final period. The Cardinal quickly put the match further out of reach with a goal at 4:39 by H. Luber, her second of the day. Wendy Watkins got a huge steal that led to a breakaway attempt by Shannon Avrett from one meter that was blocked by UC Irvine's Chamblee. After playing more stifling defense, the Cardinal came firing back down the pool with Luber's goal.
Stanford switched out goalies as Amanda Matuk entered the game. With 20 seconds left in the game, Avrett got an ejection to give the Anteaters their third 6-on-5 of the day. UCI's Aleah Amr made good use of the possession by firing one into the back of the net with 1 second left to play to make the final score 8-1.
The Cardinal women next host fourth-ranked Long Beach State on Sunday, Feb. 22, at Noon at Avery Aquatics Center.
Notes: After going 1-5 on 6-on-5's for the day, Stanford is now a combined 12-21 (.571) on the season ... Watkins' third period goal increased her team leading season total to 10 goals ... The Cardinal are outscoring opponents 45-21 this year, but are being outscored in the fourth period 8-7 ... Stanford won all four of the opening sprints.
Game Summary Team1234TOTAL Stanford50218 UC Irvine00011 Stanford Scorers: El-Sakkary 2, H. Luber 2, Shafer 2, Watkins, Hewko UC Irvine Scorers: Amr Goalie Saves: McColl (Stanford) 2, Matuk (Stanford) 0; Chamblee (UC Irvine) 11