Feb. 4, 2012
STANFORD, Calif. - Day One of the 2012 Stanford Invitational is in the books and the top-ranked Cardinal swept its way to wins over No. 14 UC Davis (18-6) and No. 3 USC (8-7) at Avery Aquatic Center.
Stanford (4-0) takes on San Jose State Sunday morning at 8 a.m. at Avery Aquatic Center. A win would put the Cardinal in the tournament championship game later in the day.
Alexis Lee scored three goals in the morning while Alyssa Lo scored four times to pace the Cardinal on the day. Cassie Churnside and Victoria Kennedy added hat tricks in the day's opening contest.
Kate Baldoni started both contests, making 10 saves in the afternoon win over USC, while Emily Dorst played the latter portion of the morning contest, against UC Davis.
Facing UC Davis for the second straight time, the Cardinal again jumped out to a large lead that put the Aggies in an early hole. Seven first-period goals were followed up by four more in the second frame, and the Cardinal defense, anchored by goalie Kate Baldoni, conceded just once to give Stanford an 11-1 halftime lead.
Each team would score thrice in the third period, but by that time the Cardinal had the contest firmly in hand and cruised to the 18-6 win. In addition to hat tricks from Churnside, Kennedy and Lee, the Cardinal got a pair of goals from Kaley Dodson and Alyssa Lo, and single goals from Cory Dodson, Jillian Garton, Kaitlyn Lo, Pallavi Menon and Lexie Ross.
The Cardinal would face its sternest test of the young season Saturday afternoon, hosting one of its most bitter rivals, third-ranked USC.
More early offense would put the Cardinal in the driver's seat, as the rock-solid defense held the Trojans scoreless over the opening eight minutes while the offense netted three goals. Two more goals in the second period against just one for USC gave the Cardinal a 5-1 lead as the team went into the break.
USC would make a late charge, though, threatening Stanford's lead. The Trojans found the back of the net three times in the third period, cutting the Cardinal's lead to 6-4 with eight minutes to go. While the Trojans would score thrice more in the final frame, the Cardinal would manage a pair of goals, just enough to hold off the USC rally and claim the 8-7 win.
Kaitlyn Lo, Menon and Alyssa Lo each scored twice in the win, while freshmen Ashley Grossman and Kiley Neushul added a goal apiece.
Baldoni made 10 saves in the win, putting Stanford one win away from the tournament's championship game.
UC Davis - 0 1 3 2 = 6
Stanford - 7 4 3 3 = 18
Stanford Goal Scorers: Churnside 3, Kennedy 3, Lee 3, K. Dodson 2, A. Lo 2, C. Dodson, Garton, K. Lo, Menon, Ross
UC Davis Goal Scorers: Dunn 2, Houston 2, Fullerton, Queipo-Miller
Goalie Saves: Baldoni , Dorst (S)
USC - 0 1 3 3 = 7
Stanford - 3 2 1 2 = 8
Stanford Goal Scorers: A. Lo 2, K. Lo 2, Menon 2, Grossman, Neushul
USC Goal Scorers: Daube 2, Gilchrist, Jancso, McCall, O'Donnell, Silvers
Goalie Saves: Baldoni 10 (S); Bolonyai 7 (USC)