May 6, 2008
2008 National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Tournament Central
Friday, May 9 - 1:30 p.m.
- vs. -
No. 7 Marist (27-7)
STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 2 Stanford women's water polo team stands just three victories away from its second national title, and it begins that quest in the home water of Avery Aquatic Center Friday at 1:30 p.m. against Marist in the opener of the 2008 National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Tournament.
Cardinal Host 2008 National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Tournament
The No. 2 Stanford women's water polo team (25-4, 11-1 MPSF) returns home for the final time this weekend for the 2008 National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Tournament. Stanford's 25-4 season mark earned it the No. 2 seed in the tournament, where the Cardinal will face off against MAAC champion Marist in the first round at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 9.
Good History In National Collegiate Tournament
Stanford has earned a berth in every National Collegiate Women's Water polo Tournament since its inception in 2001. The Cardinal, which have never finished lower than third in those eight appearances, captured the 2002 national title, and have turned in three runner-up finishes in the five years since, including last year.
About Marist
Marist (27-7) makes its second tournament appearance in three years after capturing the MAAC Tournament title with a 7-6 win against Iona. Under first-year head coach Ashleigh (), the Red Foxes are led by the scoring of Maggie Hatcher (61 goals), Kristen Barnett (58 goals), and Katelin McCahill (56 goals). Over 34 games in the cage, Marist goalkeeper Elizabeth Davis averages 8.59 saves a game while boasting a goals-against average of 6.88.
Cardinal Notes
The Cardinal are paced offensively by its three 40-goal scorers in driver Lauren Silver (66 goals - 2.28 per game), driver Kelly Eaton (45 goals - 1.55 per game), and driver/2M/2MD Jackie Gauthier (45 goals - 1.55 per game). All three players rank in the MPSF Top 25 in goals average, with Silver sitting fourth in the conference, and Eaton and Gauthier tied for 24th. On the defensive side of things, freshman goalkeeper Amber Oland has been strong in the cage all year for Stanford, ranking third among all MPSF goalkeepers that have appeared in at least 20 games with a 5.19 goals-against average, and ninth with 8.23 saves per game. As a team, the Cardinal is third in the MPSF with 320 goals (11.03 per game), and third with only 171 goals allowed (5.90 per game).
Head Coach John Tanner
Head coach John Tanner entered his 11th year at the helm of the Cardinal program in 2008. Tanner has accumulated a record of 269-47 (.851) on The Farm over that time. He has led Stanford to every NCAA Championship tournament since its inception in 2001, and has won a national title (2002) as well as turning in four national runner-up finishes (2001, `03, `05, `07).
MPSF Presence In National Tournament
The MPSF boasts the top four seeds in the eight-team field this weekend in UCLA (No. 1), Stanford (No. 2), USC (No. 3), and San Diego State (No. 4). WWPA champ UC Davis (No. 5), CWPA champ Michigan (No. 6), MAAC champ Marist (No. 7), and SCIAC champ Pomona-Pitzer round out the field.