April 13, 2013
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Second-ranked Stanford women's water polo avenged the only blemish on its slate Saturday, handing No. 1 USC its first loss with a 6-4 decision at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
The win clinches for Stanford (24-1, 5-0 MPSF) the top seed at the MPSF Championship, set to be held April 26-28 in Berkeley. As the top seed, Stanford owns a first-round bye and will begin its tournament run in Saturday's (April 27) semifinal against the winner of Friday's contest between the fourth and fifth seeds.
Stanford closes the weekend tomorrow with a 12 p.m. contest at Loyola Marymount.
Goalie Kate Baldoni made eight saves in the contest while Annika Dries made multiple field blocks to lead another sterling defensive effort by the Cardinal. USC entered the game averaging over 15 goals a game and its four goals Saturday were a season-low for the Trojans.
Melissa Seidemann led the Cardinal with a pair of goals, while additional goals were scored by Kaley Dodson, Kaitlyn Lo and Maggie Steffens.
Seidemann set the tone for the Cardinal right away, netting a goal on each of Stanford's first two possessions. The Cardinal lead would stretch to 3-0 on Maggie Steffens' counter but Colleen O'Donnell would pull one back for USC (20-1, 4-1 MPSF) before the end of the frame.
The Cardinal defense continued to dig in as the second period went on, holding the Trojans scoreless and killing off 6-on-5 situations over the eight-minute span. On the other side of the pool great passing from Kiley Neushul and Steffens sprung Lo for the period's only goal and a 4-1 halftime lead for Stanford.
USC opened the second half with some good looks at goal but still had no answer for Baldoni and the Cardinal defense. Stanford put even more pressure on the Trojans as Grossman found the back of the net to swell the Cardinal lead to 5-1. Anni Espar would pull it back for the Trojans minutes later just as the Cardinal was coming back to even strength from a 6-on-5 and the period ended with the Cardinal again up by three.
The Trojans struck first in the fourth frame, as Madeline Rosenthal drew a five-meter penalty that was converted by Espar with four minutes to go. Yet the Cardinal refused to keep the door open for a Trojan comeback, slamming it shut on Kaley Dodson's perimeter shot, making it 6-3. USC would get a 6-on-5 goal from Monica Vavic with 34 seconds left but Stanford would run out the clock and claim the important victory.
Stanford - 3 1 1 1 = 6
USC - 1 0 1 2 = 4
Stanford Goal Scorers: Seidemann 2, K. Dodson, Grossman, Lo, Steffens
USC Goal Scorers: Espar 2, O'Donnell, Vavic
Goalie Saves: Baldoni 8 (S); Bolonyai 5 (USC)