April 20, 2011
Davis, Calif. - No. 7 Stanford completed an undefeated MPSF season with a 21-9 over UC Davis. The Cardinal improved to 14-1 overall and a perfect 6-0 in conference play to win the regular season conference title.
The Cardinal struggled early in the game as UC Davis came out with a burst of energy. The Aggies jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead and led 6-5 at the 18:33 mark in the first half before Stanford began to control play.
Karen Nesbitt scored on a free-position shot at the 17:18 mark in the half to start a run of eight consecutive Stanford goals. During the run, only Lauren Schmidt scored multiple goals as the Cardinal used seven different goals scorers to put the game out of reach.
UC Davis managed one goal before the half to end the run, but the Cardinal still led 13-7 at the break. Schmidt and Leslie Foard led all first-half goal scorers with a hat trick. Sarah Flynn and Maggie Sachs also had multiple goals in the period as the Cardinal outshot the Aggies, 19-16.
Annie Read helped Stanford extend the lead making seven saves in the half on the way to her 14th victory of the season. The Cardinal won 12 of 21 draw controls in the period and 19 of 32 for the game. Leslie Foard continued to be Stanford's top weapon on draw controls with four more to her name.
To begin the second half, Stanford went on another run to put the game further out of reach. Stanford scored six straight goals to being the period and eight of 10 in the half to build the lead to 21-9. Catherine Swanson moved up from defense to earn a second-half hat trick, while Schmidt scored her game-high fourth goal.
In all, Stanford would have 10 goal scorers, while Jacqueline Candelaria joined her teammates with a hat trick as well.
Lyndsey Munoz came on to play the second half in goal and made five saves of her own, while allowing just two goals.
The Cardinal had already clinched the No. 1 seed in the MPSF tournament, but now finish as the undefeated champion of the conference.
Stanford will now head out on the road for a final non-conference game against No. 5 Northwestern. The Cardinal will travel to Chicago for the matchup of two of the top teams in the nation on Easter Sunday, April 24, at 11 a.m., PST.