April 23, 2005
Tonight at the 10th Big Splash at the Spieker Aquatics Complex in Berkeley, Stanford defeated Cal to win their fifth Big Splash in five years, 9-8. Cardinal players Katie Hansen, Christina Hewko, Scotti Shafer, Laurel Champion, Hannah Luber and Alison Gregorka each scored at least one goal, and goalie Meridith McColl contributed eight saves.
Katie Hansen scored the first goal of the game, sneaking a shot into goal at 6:25 in the first quarter. Windes then garnered a lob shot into goal at 4:36, just past the reach of McColl. Cal's Brittany Llorente scores at 4:17, getting an outside shot in to the goal, putting the Bears up 2-1. At 2:32 Scotti Shafer was able to intercept a Cal defender, allowing Hannah Luber to swim down and score a fast-break goal to bring the game to a tie. Annie Wight then put a quick back-hand into goal from two meters, surprising goalie McColl and scoring Cal's third goal of the night. At 1:23 Stanford called a time-out to rally the Cardinal. Just thirteen seconds later, Stanford's Hansen scored an outside shot into goal on a 6-on-5 opportunity at 1:10 left in the quarter.
The second quarter remained at an impasse offensively until at 3:07, Stanford's Laurel Champion sent a skip shot into goal from outside the post on a 6-on-5, and brought Stanford up 4-3. At 1:25 Cal's #4 scored their fourth goal from outside 7 meters just as the Cardinal were anticipating a turnover, allowing a tie at 4-4.
At 5:09 Stanford's Hewko stole the ball and swam it down for a sweet skip shot, scoring Stanford's fifth goal, setting them up 5-4. Then, at 4:28 Scotti Shafer scored Stanford's sixth goal unguarded on an assist from Hansen. Cal then got a man-up situation and set up a quick outside assist to McGee at the post that landed the Bears their fifth goal of the game. Just one possession later, Alison Gregorka fired a crisp bar-in cross-cage goal at 2:15, bringing Stanford up by 2 again. At 5:49, Cal found themselves in another 6-on-5 situation, and Gold found the open angle for a skip shot that scored the Bears' sixth goal.
Stanford then scored their eighth goal at 4:16 when Scotti Shafer broke free and scored a goal just inside 7 meters. The scoring war didn't end there, with another goal from Cal's Hayes at 3:22 to grab their seventh goal. Stanford's Katie Hansen found an open opportunity at 1:15 and scored a cross-cage shot for her third goal of the night to set Stanford up by two again, 9-7. But Stanford had yet another kickout, and Cal was able to capitalize on yet another man-up situation, scoring at :33 left in the game. The Cardinal ran out the clock for the win, 9-8.
Stanford scorers:
Hansen (3), Shafer (2), Champion, Hewko, Gregorka, Luber H.
Saves: McColl (8)