Nov. 2, 2007
NorPac Tournament Central
STANFORD, Calif.- Madison Bell posted her third shutout of the year while the offense did the rest as Stanford blanked Radford 3-0 on Friday afternoon in the semifinals of the NorPac Tournament at the Varsity Field Hockey Turf.
Two days after posting an 8-2 rout over the Highlanders in the regular season finale, the Cardinal was dominant on offense once again thanks to a 17-5 shot edge. This time around, Stanford only scored three goals but a stingy defensive performance provided a boost.
Stanford improves to 11-7 overall, representing its first winning season and highest win total since an 11-8 finish back in 2001. In what has become a season full of new records and program firsts, Stanford can capture its first NorPac Tournament championship since 2000 with a win over rival California on Saturday afternoon in the title match.
And a victory on Saturday would represent yet another milestone. California has won 18 straight in the series, a stretch that dates back to a 1-0 Stanford shutout on Oct. 6, 2001. However, Stanford has been close to snapping the streak on several occasions. Of the 18 losses, 12 have been decided by one goal and five of the defeats have occurred in overtime. Three of the setbacks have taken place in the conference tournament title game.
The Cardinal are now in a position to take a third crack at the Golden Bears thanks to a strong performance on Friday.
Stanford set the tone from the start against Radford (7-14, 2-4 NorPac), thanks to a 12-0 shot advantage in the first half. However, the Highlanders' Jennifer Wisniewski was equal to the task in goal and made six saves.
Sophomore Katherine Swank put the Cardinal up 1-0 with a goal at the 38:25 mark, taking a cross from senior Jess Zutz and dribbling past a defender to one-time a shot into the net.
Zutz found the net on her own in the 53rd minute, roofing a shot into the cage off a breakaway.
Freshman Jaimee Erickson closed out the scoring at the 64:37 mark, firing a shot into the net from 10 yards out after collecting a loose ball.
Sophomore Rachel Mozenter led the Cardinal with four shots while Zutz and freshman Xanthe Travlos added three each.