STANFORD, Calif. - No. 17 Stanford concluded its regular season with a 5-0 shutout of UC Davis on Friday night at the Varsity Turf.
Winners of three straight, Stanford (12-6, 4-0 America East) posted its fourth shutout of the season and was in complete control throughout in its final tune-up before next week's America East Championship. The Cardinal has earned the West Division's No. 1 seed and will be seeking its first conference title since 2017 when play begins Thursday in West Long Branch, N.J.
Corinne Zanolli produced her fifth hat trick of the season and eighth of her career while Emma Alderton fittingly added two goals on her Senior Night, as the Cardinal held a 14-9 advantage in shots.
Stanford led 3-0 at halftime, with Zanolli opening the scoring in the fifth minute off a penalty corner as Sarah Johnson and Fenella Scutt provided assists. Alderton scored unassisted in the 19th minute before Zanolli found the cage again at the 28:27 mark.
The Cardinal padded its lead early in the third quarter, with Zanolli and Alderton scoring back-to-back goals in a 30-second span.
Making her first collegiate start, Hannah Santos preserved the shutout while making five saves. Santos was playing in place of regular starter Kelsey Bing, who missed only her second career game while competing for Team USA against India in an International Hockey Federation Olympic Qualifier.
Prior to Friday's contest, Stanford recognized its 2019 senior class of Alderton, Bing, Phoebe Crosthwaite and Jessica Welch. The foursome has led the Cardinal to a 53-26 overall record, 18-4 conference record, two America East titles (2016-17) and two NCAA Tournament appearances (2016-17).
A Mechanical Engineering major from Houston, Texas, Bing is a 2016 NFHCA Third Team All-American and two-time America East Goalkeeper of the Year. Bing has also been named a three-time NFHCA National Academic Squad selection.
A Computer Science major from Christchurch, New Zealand, Alderton was named to the America East Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll as a junior. Alderton has appeared in all 18 games this season, contributing four goals and three assists, in addition to the game-winner in the final minute of Stanford's upset of No. 14 Syracuse last month.
A Psychology major from Edinburgh, Scotland, Crosthwaite was named to the America East All-Rookie Team. Crosthwaite has excelled in the classroom, having been honored as a three-time America East Commissioner's Honor Roll selection and three-time member of the NFHCA National Academic Squad.
A Human Biology major from West Long Branch, N.J., Welch's best offensive season came as a freshman, scoring six goals and earning America East All-Rookie Team honors. Welch is equally accomplished in the classroom, having been recognized as a three-time America East Commissioner's Honor Roll selection and three-time member of the NFHCA National Academic Squad.