TEMPE, Ariz. - After two one-goal finishes against UCLA in the regular season, No. 2 Stanford removed the drama in the rubber match, surging ahead of the Bruins early and never letting them back in it, winning 13-8. The victory is Stanford's sixth straight, as the Cardinal advances to its fifth straight MPSF title game, 17th all-time.
No. 2 Stanford 13 - No. 2 UCLA 8
The Bruins held two brief leads early in the game, at 1-0 and 2-1, but Stanford proceeded to rattle off three straight, with goals from Hannah Constandse, Hannah Shabb and Skyler Jones. UCLA cut the lead to 4-3 but it was again Constandse and Jones with back-to-back goals to push Stanford farther ahead.
The key to Stanford's success early was its defense, not allowing UCLA any clean shots on goal and swallowing up the Bruin attack early in the possession, forcing turnovers. Shabb scored again for the Cardinal with less than a minute left in the half, giving Stanford a 7-3 lead at the break.
UCLA showed signs of life, scoring the third period's first two goals, but the Cardinal was strong in its retaliation, eeking ahead 8-5 and 9-6 with goals from Jewel Roemer and Chloe Harbilas respectively.
Never allowing the Bruins to get in a flow, the Cardinal took advantage with another goal from Constandse to open the fourth period and push Stanford into double digits. UCLA had no answer on either end, and Roemer racked up three more goals of her own in the final 70 seconds of the game to put on a bow on the win.
With Stanford's defense disrupting UCLA, Emalia Eichelberger was only forced to make three saves on the day. The Cardinal defense held UCLA 0-of-13 in powerplay opportunities.
The Cardinal will face off with top-seed USC in the MPSF Tournament championship game on Sunday, May 2 at 2 p.m. in Arizona.
No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 2 UCLA
May 1, 2021 • Tempe, Ariz.
UCLA 2 – 1 – 3 – 2 = 8
STAN 3 – 4 – 2 – 4 = 13
UCLA Goals: Abbi Hill (3), Brooke Maxson (2), Hannah Palmer (2), Ava Johnson (1)
Stanford Goals: Jewel Roemer (4), Hannah Constandse (3), Skyler Jones (2), Hannah Shabb (2), Chloe Harbilas (1), Sarah Klass (1)
Saves: Emalia Eichelberger (3), Georgia Phillips (8), Katrina Drake (0)
