IRVINE, Calif. - Sophie Wallace's goal with 10 seconds left powered No. 1 Stanford to an 11-10 victory over No. 2 USC on Sunday afternoon in the Barbara Kalbus Invitational final.
The highly-anticipated contest – a rematch of the 2022 NCAA championship which Stanford won 10-7 – lived up to the hype, with very little separating the nation's only two remaining unbeaten programs.
Stanford (12-0) repeated as Barbara Kalbus Invitational champions and captured its sixth tournament crown overall. The Cardinal has also won four of its last five meetings against USC (12-1) dating back to last season.
Jenna Flynn, already one of Stanford's top offensive threats as a rookie, produced her most impressive performance of the season with game-high totals in goals (5) and shots (7) while dishing out two assists.
Ryann Neushul matched her career high of four goals, scoring three in the first half before adding a clutch penalty shot with two minutes remaining and USC in front 10-8.
Stanford, which owned a 29-25 shot advantage despite finishing 1-of-10 on the power play, enjoyed a two-goal lead twice in the first period before USC scored three in a row to take its first lead at 5-4 with 6:30 before intermission.
Neushul's third goal of the first half gave Stanford a 6-5 lead at the break.
Aria Fischer found the cage for her only goal of the game at the 6:05 mark of the fourth period. Fischer now has 185 career goals, ranking eighth on Stanford's all-time scoring list and two behind Margie Dingeldein (1999-2002) at 187.
Trailing 10-8 with 4:55 left to play, Neushul and Flynn scored 50 seconds apart to even the game.
Jewel Roemer contributed two assists while attempting four shots.
Maya Avital was outstanding down the stretch, denying a USC attempt in the final minute while making eight saves.
Stanford opens MPSF play on Saturday, March 4, at Indiana (10 a.m. PT).
Stanford Goals: Jenna Flynn (5), Ryann Neushul (4), Aria Fischer (1), Sophie Wallace (1).