March 9, 2006
Los Angeles, Calif. - For the third time this season, the second-ranked Cardinal faced off with top-ranked USC, and for the third time in a row, Stanford came up short in a tight match. Despite gaining an early upper hand, the Cardinal could not hold off the Women of Troy and eventually fell 7-6. With the loss, Stanford is now 11-3 overall and 5-1 in the MPSF. Meanwhile, the win kept USC's undefeated season intact and they are now 15-0 overall and 4-0 in MPSF play.
A goal by USC's Patty Cardenas put the Women of Troy up first, but the Cardinal thundered back with 3 goals in a row before USC cut the lead to 3-2 after one period. Each team scored a goal in the second period to give Stanford a 4-3 lead at the half. Junior goalkeeper Meridith McColl (Mission Viejo, CA) had an outstanding first two quarters with 10 saves.
The second half began in a deadlock with each team trading shots and blocks before USC tied the match at 4-4 with an exclusion goal at the 1:22 mark in the third. USC would take the lead for good a minute later on a skip goal by Erika Figge.
The Women of Troy would stretch their lead to 6-4 early in the fourth before a goal by senior Laurel Champion (Palo Alto, CA) brought the Cardinal back to within one at 6-5. After USC netted another goal to make it 7-5, Stanford freshman Lauren Silver (Long Beach, CA) posted the final score of the game to make it 7-6 with less than 5 seconds left. Time expired on the ensuing USC possession and the Cardinal fell to the Women of Troy for the third time this season.
In addition to the goals by Champion and Silver, junior Katie Hansen (Coronado, CA) led Stanford with 2 goals, while sophomore Jacquelyn Gauthier (Irvine, CA) and senior Scotti Shafer (Carlsbad, CA) each added scores.
The Cardinal will next travel to Sacramento to take on 14th-ranked UC Davis at 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 11.
No. 2 Stanford (11-3) 3102=6
No. 1 USC (15-0) 2122=7
Stanford Goals: Hansen 2, Gauthier, Shafer, Champion, Silver.
Stanford Saves: McColl 14
USC Goals: Hayes 3, Cardenas, Wenger, Meyer, Figge
USC Saves: Morgan 7