BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Much can change in a week. Seven days after a late defeat at the hands of UCLA in sudden death overtime, Stanford responded. The No. 3 Cardinal rode two goals from Dani Jackovich and two from Jamie Neushul to oust No. 2 UCLA at the MPSF Tournament on Saturday afternoon, 6-3.
Stanford advances to tomorrow’s championship against top-seeded USC at 2:30 p.m. The Cardinal is going in search of its sixth conference tournament title, following crowns in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2014. Sunday will be the program’s 13th league championship appearance.
On Saturday, the Cardinal scored four times in the first half and didn’t allow a second-half score to beat UCLA one week after a close 9-8 at the hands of the Bruins.
Up one at halftime, seven second-half saves from Julia Hermann and goals from Neushul and Jackovich advanced Stanford to the doorstep of another championship.
Hermann’s 14 saves are the second-most in the redshirt sophomore’s career. None of UCLA’s 12 shots in the second-half found the back of the cage.
Stanford’s redemptive effort started with a pair of first-quarter goals from Jordan Raney (3:38) and Jamie Neushul (1:56).
Tied 2-2 after one, Jackovich pushed the Cardinal ahead early in the second period off an assist from Shannon Cleary (7:06). An offensive foul late in the quarter gave possession back to Stanford, which freshman Kat Klass took advantage of by scoring with just two second remaining in the half.
UCLA’s fruitless second half was countered with a third-quarter goal from Neushul (2:53) and a fourth-quarter tally from Jackovich (5:07).
Sunday’s championship will be the third meeting of the season for the Cardinal and Trojans. USC topped Stanford at the UC Irvine Invitational on Feb. 28, 7-6, and in MPSF play on April 16, 8-3.
No. 3 Stanford vs. No. 2 UCLA
April 30, 2016 • Bakersfield, Calif.
UCLA 2 – 1 – 0 – 0 = 3
STAN 2 – 2 – 1 – 1 = 6
UCLA Goals: Alexis Angermund, Aubrie Monahan, Alexa Tielmann
UCLA Saves: Alex Musselman 4
Stanford Goals: Dani Jackovich 2, Jamie Neushul 2, Kat Klass, Jordan Raney
Stanford Saves: Julia Hermann 14