Feb. 3, 2013
STANFORD, Calif. - For the fourth successive year top-ranked Stanford women's water polo defended its home pool and captured the Stanford Invitational title, this time with an 8-5 win over No. 3 UCLA.
The Cardinal (8-0) made it into the tournament final with an 11-2 victory over UC Davis in the morning. Stanford returns to action next Saturday, Feb. 9, visiting UC Davis for a 12 p.m. contest.
Freshman Anna Yelizarova posted a hat trick in the title game and five goals on the day for the Cardinal. Kaley Dodson scored twice against the Bruins.
Things looked unfamiliar for the Cardinal early against UCLA, as the Bruins took a 3-1 lead after the opening period. Playing from behind, the Cardinal scored twice but conceded once in the second frame to go into the halftime break trailing 4-3.
The second half became a more familiar story, however. The Cardinal defense, anchored by goalie Kate Baldoni's six saves in the contest, held the Bruins scoreless in the third period then allowed just one goal over the final eight minutes. On the other side of the pool, Stanford's offense opened it up with five goals to take control of the contest and bring home a fourth straight tournament title.
Along with the five combined goals from Yelizarova and Dodson, the Cardinal got goals from Kaitlyn Lo, Melissa Seidemann and Maggie Steffens.
Stanford cruised into the title game after an 11-2 rout of No. 12 UC Davis. Kiley Neushul posted a hat trick while Seidemann and Yelizarova each scored twice. Lo, Alexis Lee, Lexie Ross and Gurpreet Sohi all added goals in the win.
The Cardinal used a five-goal second period to break open a 1-0 game, getting the lead all the way up to 10-0 by the start of the fourth period.
UC Davis - 0 0 0 2 = 2
Stanford - 1 5 4 1 = 11
Stanford Goal Scorers: Neushul 3, Seidemann 2, Yelizarova 2, Lee, Lo, Ross, Sohi
UC Davis Goal Scorers: Oreglia, Wright
Goalie Saves: Baldoni 0 (S); Woods 2 (UCD)
UCLA - 3 1 0 1 = 5
Stanford - 1 2 2 3 = 8
Stanford Goal Scorers: Yelizarova 3, Dodson 2, Lo, Seidemann, Steffens
UCLA Goal Scorers: Fattal 3, Donohoe, Ronimus
Goalie Saves: Baldoni 6 (S); Hill 8 (UCLA)