April 19, 2013
BERKELEY, Calif. - Hat tricks from Kiley Neushul and Maggie Steffens helped break a 4-4 tie as top-ranked Stanford claimed its 33rd straight win over No. 5 California, 8-4, Friday at the Big Splash in Berkeley.
The Cardinal (26-1, 6-0 MPSF) closed out its fourth straight undefeated MPSF regular season, and also has not lost to California since March 26, 2000.
Stanford, which clinched the top seed and first-round bye at the MPSF Championships, will return to Berkeley for the event next weekend. The Cardinal will play in Saturday's semifinal at 2:30 p.m. against the winner of Friday's quarterfinal between No. 4 UCLA and No. 5 California.
Kaley Dodson and Melissa Seidemann added goals for Stanford along with the hat tricks from Neushul and Steffens. On defense, goalie Kate Baldoni made seven saves as the Cardinal defense held the Golden Bears (16-6, 2-4 MPSF) to just one goal over the final 25:07.
Friday's contest opened with a wild first period which ended with the teams tied at 3-3. Thrice California took a one-goal lead and thrice the Cardinal answered with an equalizer. The score would remain tied at three apiece until Steffens converted a 6-on-5 opportunity for the Cardinal 14 seconds before the break, giving Stanford a 4-3 halftime lead.
California would answer early in the third period on a Kelly McKee goal but that would end up being it for the Golden Bears on the day as Stanford closed the game on a 4-0 run. Neushul broke the tie for the final time with her third goal at the 1:39 mark, then Steffens netted her second with 24 seconds to go in the frame.
Steffens picked up her third goal with 6:58 to play to stretch the Cardinal's lead to 7-4, and Seidemann wrapped up the scoring with 6;12 to go. From there, Baldoni and the Cardinal defense continued to put the clamps on the Golden Bears to close out the win.
Stanford - 3 1 2 2 = 8
California - 3 0 1 0 = 4
Stanford Goal Scorers: Neushul 3, Steffens 3, K. Dodson, Seidemann
California Goal Scorers: McKee, Saunders, Williams, Young
Goalie Saves: Baldoni 7 (S); Smith 7 (C)