STOCKTON, Calif. - Aria Fischer, Jewel Roemer and Sophie Wallace produced hat tricks for No. 1 Stanford, which seized control after an early deficit on the way to defeating No. 3 UCLA 14-9 in the semifinals of the NCAA Championship.
Fischer also contributed four assists, consistently setting up scoring chances along with Ryann Neushul, who finished with three assists and two goals for the Cardinal, which advanced to its 12th NCAA final in the last 13 seasons.
The nation's only program to have participated at every NCAA Championship since the event's inception in 2001, Stanford (23-1, 5-1 MPSF) is bidding to repeat as NCAA champions for the first time since 2014-15.
Stanford is chasing its ninth NCAA title in school history and will face USC in Sunday's final (7 p.m., ESPNU). The Cardinal also captured NCAA championships in 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011 and 2002.
Stanford and USC have combined to win the last 12 NCAA titles, fueling a rivalry that dominates the sport. The Cardinal has won five of the last seven meetings overall, with all of those victories clinching a tournament title (NCAA -1, MPSF - 2, Barbara Kalbus Invitational - 2). The Trojans have won the last four MPSF regular-season tilts, including a 17-12 decision on April 8 representing the Cardinal's only loss in 2023.
Picking up its third win of the season against UCLA (21-8, 4-2 MPSF), Stanford fell behind 3-1 with 3:02 remaining in the first quarter. Neushul's first goal of the game stopped the bleeding but the Cardinal trailed 3-2 at the end of the period.
The turning point came early in the second period when Wallace's second goal of the game made it 3-3, thanks to an assist from Flynn. On the ensuing possession, Wallace denied a shot attempt, drew an exclusion five seconds later and eventually helped set up Fischer, who scored to make it 4-3 as the Cardinal never trailed.
Stanford held UCLA scoreless over the next eight minutes but the Bruins battled back for a 6-6 tie late into the second quarter. However, Flynn fired home a clutch goal for the Cardinal seven seconds before halftime for a 7-6 advantage.
The Cardinal created some breathing room in the third quarter, scoring three consecutive goals, with Fischer finding the cage at the 4:25 mark for a 9-6 lead.
UCLA made one more push to creep within 9-8, only to have Stanford rip off three straight goals by Wallace, Roemer and Skyler Jones to put the game away.
Maya Avital finished with seven saves in goal.
Stanford Goals: Aria Fischer 3, Jewel Roemer 3, Sophie Wallace 3, Jenna Flynn 2, Ryann Neushul 2, Skyler Jones 1.