STANFORD, Calif. – No. 1 Stanford used a strong performance early to defeat No. 7 San Jose State in its morning contest and stifled No. 2 UCLA late in its afternoon affair to close out a perfect weekend and capture the 2015 Stanford Invitational at Avery Aquatic Center on Sunday. The Cardinal downed the Spartans, 11-8, to win its bracket and set up its first meeting of the year with No. 2 UCLA, which Stanford claimed 10-6.
The victory over San Jose State was the 500th in the history of the Stanford women’s water polo program. The Cardinal, which is a perfect 6-0 this season, is now 501-81 (.861) all-time.
The title conquest over the Bruins in the afternoon, a rematch of last season’s NCAA Championship game also won by Stanford (9-5), was the Cardinal’s fourth straight over UCLA and ninth in its last 10 meetings.
No. 1 Stanford 11 – No. 7 San Jose State 8
Nine Cardinal scored and a six-goal outburst in the first quarter set the early tone in what was the 500th win in Stanford women’s water polo history.
Anna Yelizarova opened the game by converting a penalty at 6:57 and Ashley Grossman followed with a score of her own mere moments later (6:31). After a Spartan tally, Stanford reeled off four goals in a row, securing even-strength scores from Jamie Neushul (4:33), Rachel Johnson (3:02) and Katie Dudley (1:57) and a successful penalty from Maggie Steffens (3:25).
Kiley Neushul (3:15) and Dani Jackovich (1:36) continued Stanford’s balanced attack in the second as all of the Cardinal’s eight first-half goals was put home by a different player.
Stanford scored the first three coming out of intermission to take its largest lead of the morning, 11-4, with 11:18 remaining in the game. Jamie Neushul (7:02) and Steffens (5:50) each scored their second in the contest before Jordan Raney concluded the Cardinal’s offensive output with her goal at 3:18 in the third.
Gabby Stone made six saves in the cage and ensured the Cardinal’s 11 goals would stand in the milestone victory.
No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 7 San Jose State
Feb. 1, 2015 • Stanford, Calif.
SJSU 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 = 8
STAN 6 – 2 – 3 – 0 = 11
San Jose State Goals: B. Seyfert 3, R. Lekness 2, D. Styles 2, V. Smith
San Jose State Saves: K. Thompson 9
Stanford Goals: Jamie Neushul 2, Maggie Steffens 2, Katie Dudley, Ashley Grossman, Dani Jackovich, Rachel Johnson, Kiley Neushul, Jordan Raney, Anna Yelizarova,
Stanford Saves: Gabby Stone 6
No. 1 Stanford 10 – No. 2 UCLA 6
Stanford continued its recent run of success against UCLA with a 10-6 win in the championship match of the weekend tournament. The Cardinal never trailed en route to its fourth consecutive win over the Bruins.
A three-goal Stanford lead at halftime dwindled to one, 7-6, entering the fourth quarter, but a decisive three-goal spurt earned the Cardinal the title.
Early in the final frame, Jamie Neushul controlled on the right side of the pool and guided a pass in the direction of Maggie Steffens at the far side of the cage. With two defenders draped over her, Steffens used a deft touch to guide Neushul’s pass by UCLA goalkeeper Sami Hill and put Stanford up, 8-6.
With just over four minutes left in the game, Steffens gathered mid-tank and fed Kiley Neushul on the left. The elder Neushul lofted in a pass for Ashley Grossman, who had worked herself into position between her defender at the cage at two meters. The senior-to-senior connection worked and Grossman gathered Neushul’s assist before turning and firing her second of the game past Hill at 4:11.
Kiley Neushul got her mark in the scoring column with a 6-on-5 tally at 3:20, beating Hill to her left with a low rocket. Stanford’s 10th and final goal of the game gave the Cardinal its highest total against UCLA since an 11-7 victory in the 2013 MPSF Semifinals.
Anna Yelizarova led Stanford with her second hat trick of the weekend, including a nifty look-away goal at 6:21 in the second quarter.
Gabby Stone made 10 saves. Sami Hill had four stops for UCLA.
No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 2 UCLA
Feb. 2, 2015 • Stanford, Calif.
UCLA 1 – 2 – 3 – 0 = 6
STAN 2 – 4 – 1 – 3 = 10
UCLA Goals: M. Barr 2, E. Donohoe 2, K. Hill, A Williams
UCLA Saves: S. Hill 4
Stanford Goals: Anna Yelizarova 3, Ashley Grossman 2, Dani Jackovich, Rachel Johnson, Kiley Neushul, Gurpreet Sohi, Maggie Steffens,
Stanford Saves: Gabby Stone 10