May 12, 2013
BOSTON, Mass. - The longest Women's Water Polo NCAA Championship Game did not fall Stanford's way as the Cardinal was defeated 10-9 in golden-goal, quadruple overtime by USC Sunday at Harvard's Blodgett Pool.
Stanford, which had its hopes for an NCAA title three-peat derailed with the loss, finishes the season 29-3.
USC's Anni Espar scored the golden goal with 13 seconds remaining in the fourth overtime period, ending a game that lasted 45 minutes and 47 seconds. After each team scored a goal over the first two overtime periods, things went scoreless over the first 8:46 of golden-goal extra time. Stanford won the opening sprint of the period, but over its two possessions of the frame had shots from Annika Dries and Melissa Seidemann saved by Trojan goalie Flora Bolonyai.
Espar had shot high on USC's first possession of the session, but on the second, with the shot clock winding down, drew a foul with 14 seconds left in the frame. With the space from the foul, Espar's shot found the upper corner of the cage, just past the hand of Cardinal goalie Kate Baldoni.
The goal ended what had been a wild back-and-forth contest. Stanford assumed early control as Maggie Steffens scored the first of her two goals just 32 seconds into the game. Five minutes later Steffens would take advantage of a quick restart following a USC foul, feeding Seidemann inside for a one-timer that doubled the Cardinal lead.
As the second period got underway Stanford would again strike on its first possession. Kaley Dodson won the period's opening sprint, then after effective cycling on offense fired home into the upper half of the cage with just 31 seconds elapsed. USC, however, would get back into the game with three goals before the half, two coming from Madeline Rosenthal on the 6-on-5. Kiley Neushul managed a goal for the Cardinal as it took a 4-3 lead into the break.
The teams traded a pair of goals each in the third period, Dodson and Seidemann each scoring their second of the game for Stanford. Yet in the fourth period USC made a push which would put them in front late. Hannah Buckling tied the game on a shot from just inside half-tank that skipped under Baldoni's arm with 1:56 to play, then Espar rattled home a shot off the post on the 6-on-5 to give the Trojans their first lead of the game at 7-6 with 45 seconds left.
Stanford would get a 6-on-5 on its final possession, with Neushul's shot being tipped out by Bolonyai. On the second chance, Ashley Grossman's shot was deflected past Bolonyai and just over the line to tie things up and send the game into overtime.
Stanford - 2 2 2 1 1-1 0 0 0 = 9
USC - 0 3 2 2 1-1 0 0 1 = 10
Stanford Goal Scorers: Seidemann 3, K. Dodson 2, Steffens 2, Grossman, Neushul
USC Goal Scorers: Buckling 5, Espar 2, Rosenthal 2, Mendoza
Goalie Saves: Baldoni 11 (S); Bolonyai 17 (USC)