Stanford Stanford (May 01, 2002)not the favorite

But Cardinal women hope history repeats in NCAA Final Four

Rick Eymer

Last year the Stanford women's water polo team was undefeated and flying high entering the NCAA Final Four. They didn't have to worry about their place in the tournament, which was held at Stanford.

It was a little different this season.

Top-seeded Stanford (21-2) couldn't overcome a barrage of goals in the second half, dropping an 11-7 decision to UCLA in the championship match of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation women's water polo tournament at USC on Sunday.

The Bruins earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Final Four which begins Saturday, May 11, also at USC. Stanford had to wait until late Monday afternoon to find out it was going to be invited back to the big party.

Loyola Marymount and Michigan also qualified for the Final Four.

The Cardinal will face Michigan (25-11) in the first game.

UCLA, LMU and Michigan all received automatic bids. Stanford was awarded the at-large berth over USC. The Cardinal won't mind of history repeats itself. Last year, the Bruins were the at-large team and beat Stanford in the finals to earn the national title.

Michigan advanced to the Final Four with a 7-6 win over Hartwick in double overtime. The Wolverines, playing just their second season as a varsity team, will have a large local following, since Menlo School grad Marianne Kixmiller, Palo Alto alum Caroline Faught and St. Francis grads Meg Knudtsen, from Los Altos, and Megan Hayes, an Atherton resident, all play for Michigan.

In fact, three members of Menlo's 1998 CCS championship team will be reunited at the Final Four. Stanford's Julie Gardner joins Kixmiller and Loyola Marymount's Rachel Saal for the Final Four festivities.

Gunn grad Jessica Goldner was in the goal for Indiana, which lost to Michigan 8-7 in four overtimes in the semifinal match.

Loyola Marymount beat UC San Diego, 8-4, in the Western Water Polo Association final. Saal scored four goals in the first two games of the tourney.

Stanford defeated Long Beach State, 10-4, in the semifinals as seniors Margie Dingeldein and Ellen Estes, along with Gardner and Wendy Watkins each scored two goals.

Goalkeeper Jackie Frank had eight saves.

The Cardinal opened the tournament with a 14-4 victory over Hawaii as Dingeldein scored four goals and sophomore Brenda Villa added three.

Dingeldein, Estes and Jeanine Jackson each scored two goals in the championship game.

The Cardinal took a 2-0 lead in the first quarter, but UCLA came back to tie it by halftime.

It was the most goals scored against Stanford in a single match all season.