STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford’s 2024 season has ended in the NCAA semifinal, falling 17-14 to No. 1 UCLA. The Cardinal finish the season with a 22-5 record, reaching the NCAA Championship tournament for the first time since 2021.
Both teams found the back of the net early, with UCLA scoring just 30 seconds into the game. But before the first minute of play had passed, Soren Jensen struck for the Card to even it at one goal apiece. Halfway through the quarter, Jackson Painter and Riley Pittman each scored within a minute of each other to make it a 3-1 Stanford lead. Jensen and Pittman would add in seconds to close the quarter, with the Cardinal up 5-2
UCLA responded with a 5-2 advantage in the second quarter, sending the teams into halftime tied at 7-7.
Pittman opened the second half with his third goal of the game to put Stanford back in front at 8-7. When UCLA answered to tie it at eight, Chase McFarland scored to make it 9-8. When UCLA tied it again at nine, Alex Gheorghe was the one to answer and make it a 10-9 advantage for the hosts. Two unanswered goals from the Bruins to end the quarter would but the Cardinal behind 11-10 heading into the final frame.
UCLA opened the fourth with a pair of goals to make it a 13-10 before Botond Balogh broke up the Bruin run. The freshman’s second goal of the day cut the deficit to two goals at 13-11. Then it was Jensen again, scoring with 4:21 left on the clock to cut it to just a goal at 13-12.
After a pair of goals from the Bruins pushed the lead to 15-13, Balogh again answered to bring the Cardinal within two with 2:03 left in regulation. UCLA added two more scores before Jensen added a goal with 30 seconds left for a 17-14 final.
Pittman and Balogh finished with hat tricks, while Jensen led the Cardinal with four scores and six assists. In the cage, West Temkin made seven saves.
No. 4 Stanford vs. No. 1 UCLA
UCLA 2 – 5 – 4 – 6 = 17
STAN 5 – 2 – 3 – 4 = 14
STAN Goals: S. Jensen (4), J. Painter, R. Pittman (3), B. Balogh (3), C. McFarland, A. Gheorghe, G. Watson
UCLA Goals: R. Dodd (6), F. Carsalade (3), N. Tierney (2), C. Dodd (2), M. Szecsi, J. Larsen, B. Liechty, M. Kenney