Stanford-UC Davis Quotes
Quotes following Stanford's 15-8 victory over UC Davis
May 11, 2008
2008 National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship
Final: Stanford 15 UC Davis 8
Stanford Head Coach John Tanner
On taking third place...
"I guess its better than fourth. It's a tough game to play, to come back after the frustration after not winning, and not getting a chance to play in the finals."
"I was proud with how we responded and how we played. It was fun in terms of offensive execution. We scored some exciting goals."
"So much happens so fast. We get here last night and UCLA had just won and there are only three teams left. Whoever wins this next game plays for the championship in 24 hours. It is the exciting part of this. You spend so much time getting down to these end of the year games, these do or die games, it's a lot to digest."
Senior Jackie Gauthier
On the game:
"It's third place in the nation. Its great. We played really well today, I was very excited and happy with that."
On looking ahead to next year:
"I think it's going to be amazing. I am so excited to watch, I wish I could have another year. Just look at how we came together with seven freshman this year. Now they have a year under their belts and they are just going to grow and do great things."
UC Davis
Head Coach Jamie Wright
"Obviously, I told the team after the game, that this is not the best game we played all year. Giving credit to Stanford, they came out aggressively, attacking in front of the goal"
"I just thought they came out really hard. We sort of gained a little bit of a balance to bring it to six- three, but we never gained a rhythm after that. They kept on with good pressure at the defensive end."
"I think both teams are pretty fast teams. Against a different team we might have gotten a counter goal or two and snaked our way back into the game. That didn't happen."
"I was so proud of all the effort and all the work they put in this year. As difficult of a game that was it doesn't minimize how great the team did and what a great season it was."
On his game plan going in...
"I really thought that Stanford is an interesting team, they don't have a really dominate center. It's interesting to me that they are effective as they are."
"Our plan was to control them front court and our speed was enough to control their counter, and because they didn't have a dominate center, I didn't think we had to drop as much as we did yesterday against UCLA. I thought that gave us a shot."
"They did an excellent job of getting deep position on us in front of the goal, posting up different people, and not waiting to draw fouls, but taking quick shots."
On next year...
"Stanford is going to be in a good place next year, they had maybe a good of a recruiting year as anyone has had this year or ever had. They have some kids coming in that are just outstanding."
UC Davis' Casey Mota
On her emotions after finishing the game:
"Its kind of sad to end on a lose, but at the same time I couldn't ask to end the season in a better way.. Finishing top four at the NCAA, not many people can say that they have done that and just being with such a great team. We have been together for four years and I wish it never had to end."
"It's such a great feeling to know that we accomplished something that no one else at our school has.