April 19, 2008
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The No. 2 Stanford women's water polo team was tested late in its regular-season finale Saturday afternoon at No. 9 San Jose State, but the defense held its ground when it mattered most as the Cardinal 23-3 (11-1 MPSF) won its 11th straight game with a 9-8 victory over the Spartans (13-13, 4-8 MPSF).
The Cardinal, having already clinched the No. 2 seed in next weekend's MPSF Tournament in San Diego, were led in the victory by two goals apiece from Kelly Eaton, Kelsey Holshouser, and Lauren Silver. Jacquelyn Gautheir, Allie Gerrity, and Heather West each added a score, as well.
Amber Oland made eight saves in the cage for Stanford.
Things looked to be well in hand for Stanford in the first half, as the Cardinal stormed out to a 4-1 first-period lead, then increased the advantage to 7-2 at halftime.
A goal to open the second half extended the Cardinal lead to 8-2 with 5:02 remaining in the third period, but the Spartans began to mount a comeback at that point. SJSU's Juliet Moss opened the salvo with a five-meter penalty that got past Amber Oland to cut the Stanford lead to 8-3. The Spartans would then score the next three goals to pull to within 8-6 early in the fourth period before Holshouser scored to get the Cardinal cushion back to three.
Yet the Spartans kept coming, scoring twice more to get to 9-8 with just 1:08 remaining. But the Stanford defense would hold, stifling the San Jose State offense over the final minute, including the final possession, in which it did not allow a Spartan shot for the final 17 seconds.
Stanford will now enter the postseason phase next weekend, as the No. 2 seed in the MPSF Tournament taking place in San Diego. The Cardinal will receive a bye through Thursday's contests, opening play Friday afternoon, April 25, at 12:40 p.m. against the winner of Thursday's battle between No. 7 California and No. 10 Long Beach State.
Stanford - 4 3 1 1 = 9
San Jose State - 1 1 3 3 = 8
Stanford Goal Scorers: Eaton 2, Holshouser 2, Silver 2, Gauthier, Gerrity, West
SJSU Goal Scorers: Moss 3, Hannum, Harberts, Iglesias, Pearce, Vogt
Goalie Saves: Oland 8 (S); Adama 6 (SJSU)