LOS ANGELES – USC took its first lead of the game in the fourth quarter and held off Stanford in the final two minutes to capture the 2018 national title, 5-4, and deny the Cardinal its back-to-back championship bid.
The teams traded goals over the first 24 minutes in a defensive struggle that entered the final period tied 3-3. On the Trojans' first possession, Denise Mammolito spun her way free and slid her shot into the corner to push USC (26-1) ahead 4-3.
Stanford (20-4) equalized at 5:45 when Aria Fischer worked inside to earn a 6-on-5 for the Cardinal. Jordan Raney lofted a cross pass to Kat Klass and the junior hammered it home near post.
Julia Hermann made a massive save with just under three minutes to go to keep Stanford level. With the Cardinal goalkeeper guarding the right post, USC was able to quickly switch it to Paige Hauschild on the left side in front of a wide open cage. Hermann covered the open space in an instant and knocked away the freshman's attempt.
Mammolito broke free with 1:57 to go in a 3-on-2 opportunity for USC and scored her second of the quarter on a low skip to the far side to inch the Trojans ahead again.
Makenzie Fischer drew an exclusion on Maud Megens on the ensuing possession and Stanford nearly tied it up when Katie Dudley found space at two meters, but the ball slipped out of her hand and the shot fell short of the cage.
USC ceded possession with 52 seconds to go and the Cardinal called timeout to draw up a play. Makenzie Fischer's shot was 22 seconds remaining was saved by Amanda Longan and sent out for a Stanford corner throw. That would be the final chance for the Cardinal, which was whistled for its 11th offensive foul of the afternoon with eight seconds remaining.
The Trojans took over, called timeout and was able to run out the clock on the restart.
Stanford, which has appeared in every national final since 2010 and won five of the past eight NCAA titles, is now 38-12 all-time in NCAA postseason play.
Neither team was able to find the back of the cage in the first quarter. Stanford broke through first with 5:31 on the clock in the second when Makenzie Fischer hit Raney with a no-look feed and Raney buried it far post. With 2:46 to go until halftime a contra foul on the Cardinal sparked a 3-on-1 opportunity for USC on which Brianna Daboub capitalized to make it 1-1.
Madison Berggren went cross cage with a left-handed rocket at 6:57 in the third on the power play, but the 2-1 edge was short-lived. Mammolito scored in the 6-on-5 for USC with 6:26 on the clock.
Aria Fischer was swarmed by three defenders at the midway point of the quarter and fought her way free at two meters to inch the Cardinal in front again.
Hermann gobbled up a shot by Courtney Fahey soon after and it appeared as if the Cardinal would have a one-goal lead entering the fourth until Hauschild scored on the power play with just two seconds remaining.
Hermann, who made 10 saves on Sunday, was named to the all-tournament second team along with Aria Fischer and Kat Klass. Makenzie Fischer and Jordan Raney landed on the first team.
No. 2 Stanford at No. 1 USC
May 13, 2018 • Los Angeles, Calif.
USC 0 – 1 – 2 – 2 = 5
STAN 0 – 1 – 2 – 1 = 4
USC Goals: Denise Mammolito 3, Brianna Daboub, Paige Hauschild
USC Saves: Amanda Longan 11
Stanford Goals: Madison Berggren, Aria Fischer, Kat Klass, Jordan Raney
Stanford Saves: Julia Hermann 10
