LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Juliette Dhalluin matched a season high with four goals while the defense did the rest as No. 2 Stanford outlasted USC 11-7 on Saturday in the semifinals of the MPSF Championship.
Stanford (21-1, 5-1 MPSF) will next face host No. 1 UCLA in Sunday’s final at 2:30 p.m. The Cardinal is seeking its eighth MPSF title and third in the past four seasons after repeating in 2022-23. Stanford also won the MPSF championship in 2014, 2006, 2003, 2001 and 2000. There have been three seasons in which the Cardinal has won both the MPSF and NCAA titles (2014, 2022, 2023).
The Cardinal, which split its two earlier meetings this season against the Trojans, regained control in the second half and limited USC to seven goals on 31 shot attempts.
Dhalluin, one of Stanford’s most consistent players who has scored at least one goal in all but three games, needed only three quarters to complete her hat trick before adding a fourth in the final period.
Ryann Neushul scored twice to increase her career total to 220 and is now three goals shy of passing sister Kiley Neushul (2012-15) and moving into sixth place on the Cardinal’s all-time list.
Jewel Roemer added two goals while also contributing three assists for the Cardinal, which erupted for five goals in the first half but had its halftime lead trimmed to 6-4.
After USC crept to within 8-6 late in the third period, Stanford ripped off three straight goals to make it 11-6 with 5:01 remaining.
Christine Carpenter was outstanding in goal, finishing with nine saves.
Stanford Goals: Juliette Dhalluin (4), Ryann Neushul (2), Jewel Roemer (2), Serena Browne (1), Sophia Sanders (1), Ella Woodhead (1).
Dhalluin, Defense Delivered
Juliette Dhalluin's four goals keys 11-7 Stanford win