Feb. 26, 2006
Santa Barbara, Calif. - Coming off a tight victory over No. 2 UCLA earlier Sunday, the 3rd-ranked Cardinal fell in a heartbreaker to No. 1 USC, 6-5 in Sunday afternoon's Gaucho Invitational Title Match on the campus of UC Santa Barbara. Junior Christina Hewko of Newport Beach, CA led the way with two goals for Stanford (9-2, 3-0), but it would not be enough as the Cardinal fell for the second time this season to the Trojans (12-0, 2-0).
The Cardinal got on the scoreboard first with a goal by senior Nancy El-Sakkary (Dollar des Ormeaux, Quebec) and would eventually build a 3-0 lead through one period. The Trojans would not go down quietly and answered back with 2 goals in the second period before Stanford could extend its lead to 4-2. USC senior Laura Wenger scored the last goal of the 1st half to cut Stanford's lead to 4-3.
USC senior Moriah Van Norman tied the score 4-4 in the third frame before the Trojans took their first lead of the match in the fourth quarter. Trojan junior Brittany Hayes then extended USC's lead to 6-4. Hewko answered to bring the Cardinal within 6-5, but the Cardinal effort would not be enough.
Junior goalkeeper Meridith McColl (Mission Viejo, CA) posted a solid defensive effort with 11 saves.
Stanford settled for 2nd place in the weekend tournament with wins over No. 15 UCSD, No. 6 Cal, and No. 2 UCLA before losing to USC. The Trojans took home the title with wins over Brown, No. 9 SDSU, No. 5 Hawaii, and Stanford.
Next up, the Cardinal welcome No. 13 UC Irvine to Avery Aquatic Center on Saturday, March 4.
Gaucho Invitational, Title Match - Sunday Afternoon
#1 USC (12-0)0312=6
#3 Stanford (9-2)3101=5
USC Goals: Wenger-2, Craig, Figge, Hayes, Van Norman
USC Saves: 11
Stanford Goals: Hewko-2, El-Sakkary, Shafer, Steffens
Stanford Saves: McColl-11