May 15, 2005
In the Championship game of the 2005 NCAA Championships, the No. 3 Cardinal women came away with silver, in a heart-wrenching loss to UCLA, 2-3. It was Stanford's fifth appearance in the 5-year history of the Women's Water Polo NCAA Championships, and their third showing in the Championship final match. UCLA finished an undefeated season 33-0, while Stanford ended with 22-7. The game was televised LIVE on CSTV.
Starters for the Cardinal tonight were Katie Hansen, Christina Hewko, Alison Gregorka, Scotti Shafer, Hannah Luber, goalie Meridith McColl. Starting for UCLA were Natalie Golda, Kelly Rulon, Thalia Munro, Gabrielle Domanic, Molly Cahill, Kacy Kunkel, and goalie Emily Feher,
The Championship game got off to a slow start for the Cardinal, as UCLA won the sprint. The first two minutes were scoreless, with UCLA unable to capitalize on a 6-on-5 opportunity. At 4:03 left in the first quarter, Natalie Golda converted UCLA's second 6-on-5 opportunity from a straight outside shot that went into the high corner of the net. Alison Gregorka stole the ball from set at 3:09 for the Cardinal, but after a quick pass into set, goalie Emily Feher stopped a shot from Hannah Luber. At 1:35 to go in the first quarter, Brittany Rowe got a quick goal off a fast assist and suddenly UCLA was up 2-0. A couple of inaccurate passes allowed Stanford only fifteen seconds on offense, but one possession later Hannah Luber drew an ejection on Natalie Golda, yet a shot from Stanford's Alison Gregorka off an assist from Laurel Champion was blocked by Feher. The first quarter ended with the Cardinal behind by two, 0-2.
UCLA gained the sprint to start the second quarter, and managed the first shot on goal. Stanford had a 6-on-5 opportunity at 5:30 left in the second quarter, but again couldn't get an accurate shot off. A 6 on 5 situation for UCLA resulted in a shot on goal, which bounced off the goalpost and was recovered by Meridith McColl. Christina Hewko found herself open at 3 meters, but her tip shot was knocked away from behind by a UCLA defender. UCLA player Monique Blanchard was suddenly open in front of the Cardainl goal, but her quick shot to the far side was just as quickly blocked with one arm by Meridith McColl. UCLA took their ninth shot-on-goal of the game but it was grabbed by Hannah Luber, and the second quarter ended scoreless, UCLA up 2-0. Stanford posted 0 for 2 in 6-on-5 opportunities, while UCLA was 1 for 3. Though the Cardinal had six shots on goal, four of those came in the first quarter as UCLA's defense intensified in the first portion of the second quarter.
Stanford's Hannah Luber won the third quarter sprint, and two possessions later got an assist from Katie Hansen and fired off a sweet backhand from set to score Stanford's first goal of the game at just under 6:00 left in the third quarter. UCLA's Brittany Rowe tried a shot from the outside, but it skidded out to the side of the goal and was recovered by Meridith McColl. Twenty seconds later, Hannah Luber took a shot from 2-meters, but was blocked by Feher. UCLA earned a man-up opportunity, but their shot on goal was blocked by Hannah Luber and Scotti Shafer, and allowed Stanford a possession, which they turned into a 6 on 5 opoportunity. A pass was misplaced though, resulting in another UCLA gain. Scotti Shafer drew a kickout a full shot-clock later, and gave Stanford a 6 on 5, which they couldn't convert before the field became even again. Scotti Shafer tried a quick assist to Hannah Luber at 2-meters, but her shot was blocked, ending the third quarter with Stanford behind by one, 1-2.
Hannah Luber won the sprint for Stanford to start off the last quarter of the Championship game, but just :18 seconds into the quarter, Stanford found themselves with their sixth kickout of the game, despite strong defense in the first two quarters by Laurel Champion at 2-meters. Kelly Rulon took a skip shot from 4-meters, but Meridith McColl was right there to block the shot. At 5:12 left in the fourth quarter, Brittany Rowe landed a goal from set, bringing UCLA up 3-1. At 4:12 to go, Hannah Luber got Katie Hansen an assist which she sent into the net for a goal, getting Stanford to 2-3. At just over 2:00 to go, Christina Hewko dropped in from the side to steal the ball, then a time-out allowed the Cardinal to re-fresh. Kacy Kunkel tried a lob shot at the goal, but Meridith McColl swatted it down. At only :36 seconds left to go, the Cardinal got a 6-on-5 opportunity, but an inaccurate pass left UCLA with :19 seconds on the clock to run out for the 2005 NCAA Championship title.
Final score: Stanford (2) UCLA (3)
Stanford scorers: H. Luber, Hansen
Saves: McColl (8)
UCLA scorers: Golda, Rowe (2)
Saves: Feher (7)