STANFORD, Calif. – Makenzie Fischer scored five times and No. 1 Stanford closed out its home schedule with a 10-4 victory over No. 6 Arizona State on Sunday afternoon.
Fischer poured in five for the third time in the past five games and was backed up by two-goal efforts from sister Aria Fischer and Madison Berggren. Jordan Raney, who was celebrated in a pregame ceremony along with fellow seniors Shannon Cleary, Katie Dudley and Julia Hermann, added a goal as well.
The game was tied 1-1 after one and Stanford (15-2, 2-2 MPSF) was up 4-2 at the half. The Cardinal distanced itself from the Sun Devils (15-8, 1-4 MPSF) coming out of the break when it scored three straight to grow its lead to five.
Makenzie Fischer broke up the left side of the pool at 5:36 in the third, walked it in and scored her fourth of the afternoon to make it 5-2. The Cardinal cycled the ball around in the 6-on-5 from right to left for a goal at 4:33. Berggren passed up top to Makenzie Fischer, who swung it around to her sister for the score.
On ASU's ensuing possession, Sarah Klass blocked a Sun Devil shot and goalkeeper Julia Hermann came out quickly to grab the ball and initiate Stanford's offense. She hit Berggren streaking up the right side and the lefty hammered home the goal to push the Cardinal advantage to 7-2.
Arizona State scored the next two from Alkistis Benekou and Kayla Casas to give the Sun Devils some life, but the fourth quarter was all Stanford. Berggren netted her second early in the period when she took a cross pass from Makenzie Fischer and whipped it past ASU goalkeeper Mia Rycraw.
At 4:59 Kat Klass had a beautiful pass inside to Raney at the far post and the senior beat Rycraw to the near side for Stanford's ninth goal of the day. Three minutes later Makenzie Fischer scored her fifth on a skip shot to the near post.
Stanford was 1-for-4 on the power play, but its defense forced Arizona State to come up empty on the Sun Devils' nine 6-on-5 opportunities. Julia Hermann made seven saves for the Cardinal before Katrina Sturm came on to play the final 2:03 in the cage.
The Fischer sisters scored Stanford's first six goals before Berggren found the back of the cage midway through the third quarter. Makenzie used a skip shot to the far post to slide her first past Rycraw at the halfway point of the opening period. Early in the second a contra foul on Arizona State led to a breakaway for Stanford. Hermann passed ahead to Kat Klass, who pushed it up to Makenzie Fischer for the goal.
With 4:36 on the clock in the second, Aria was 1v1 with Rycraw following a Cleary field block and rattled the cage for the first time. A little over a minute later Makenzie converted the penalty after Rosie Huck was whistled for the infraction. Makenzie would score the first coming out of halftime and Aria was successful on the aforementioned power play to give the Cardinal a 6-2 edge.
Stanford closes out its regular season on Sunday, April 22 when it plays San Jose State at West Valley College at noon.
No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 6 Arizona State
April 15, 2018 • Stanford, Calif.
ASU 1 – 1 – 2 – 0 = 4
STAN 1 – 3 – 3 – 3 = 10
Arizona State Goals: Alkistis Benekou, Kayla Casas, Maud Koopman, Bente Rogge
Arizona State Saves: Mia Rycraw 6
Stanford Goals: Makenzie Fischer 5, Madison Berggren 2, Aria Fischer 2, Jordan Raney
Stanford Saves: Julia Hermann 7
