Stanford women earn silver Stanford women earn silver (July 31, 2002)at Senior National water polo

Rick Eymer

Menlo School doesn't have to take a back seat to anybody when it comes to providing talent for the Stanford women's water polo club team.

Palo Alto, Gunn and Castilleja can also take pride in their contributions as well.

With seven local players (nine including a pair from St. Francis) playing for coach Susan Ortwein's team, Stanford reached the finals of the Women's Senior Nationals in Bloomington, Ind., over the weekend before losing to a powerful New York Athletic Club squad, 13-4, which featured the likes of Nicole Payne, Catherine Von Schwarz, Heather Moody and Coralie Simmons, all members of the United States National Team that represents the U.S. in international competition, including the Olympics.

Stanford's only losses in the tournament were to New York in pool play, 14-4, and again in the finals. It's the farthest a Stanford club team has ever gotten in Senior National play.

Stanford beat Group B winner Modesto/Stanislaus, 8-5, in the semifinals.

Menlo products Julie Gardner, Amy Gardner and Erica Wilson all contributed for Stanford, along with Gunn products Jessie Goldner and Kai Lai, Paly's Laurel Champion and Castilleja's Anne-Lisa Maag. Molly Hayes and Lindsey O'Farriell of St. Francis added to the local flavor.

Lauren Faust, Hannah Luber and Kelty Huber, all from Stanford, joined in the fun. Only Kristin Stanford, from Indiana, came from outside the area.

New York brought in plenty of help from Southern California, however.

It might have made a difference had Stanford juniors Wendy Watkins and Shannon Avrett not decided to play for their hometown Modesto/Stanislaus club, or if Castilleja grad Lindy Spieker hadn't gone off to Santa Barbara.

New York was too much for Stanford in the title match, opening up an 8-1 lead early in the third quarter.

Julie Gardner's goal with six seconds left in the first quarter put Stanford within 2-1, but that was as close as they would come.

Gardner added another goal to make it 8-2 and Faust scored to make it 8-3. Champion also scored for Stanford.

Gardner and Faust were named first team all-tournament, along with Watkins and Spieker.

Stanford, Champion and Hannah Luber were named honorable mention along with Avrett.

New York had six members, including all four from the National Team, on the first team.

Stanford reached the finals with an 8-5 victory over Modesto/Stanislaus. Stanford scored three goals, while Julie Gardner added two first-quarter goals. Stanford was up 5-1 and staved off a rally. Watkins scored two goals.

In pool play, Faust scored four goals in a 13-5 win over Navy, while Amy Gardner added three goals in a 12-3 win over Big Valley.

Watkins scored 11 goals in five games, including five in an 8-5 win over Northern Illinois.

Spieker had nine goals in four games, including three in a 4-3 victory over Great Lakes.

A number of those who played for Stanford in the Senior Nationals will be back in action this week at the National Junior Olympics in Northern California. Champion, Hayes, Lai, Maag, O'Farriell and Wilson all will play for the Stanford 18-Under A (White) team that is seeded No. 1 in its division. That squad will open Wednesday against Tsunami at 2:30 p.m. at the Cunningham Aquatic Complex in Vallejo. The A squad also will play Newport on Thursday at Las Lomas High in Walnut Creek and then Mercer Island at 2:45 p.m. at the Cunningham complex.

Other members of the White team include goalie Taryn Appelblom, Jessica Lee, Susan Lee, Brittani Llorente, Jennifer MacDonell, Amy Romer and Jill Rubenstein.

The Stanford 18-Under B (Red) team will open against Riverside at Miramonte High on Wednesday at 3:15 p.m. Team members include Elizabeth Balassone, Emily Brown, Wesley Ellison, Alie Fohner, Amy Gardner, Julia Goldstein, Jenna Green, Elizabeth Jensen, Erin Roberton, Dana Saign, Elissa Test, Roxanne Tursi and Elizabeth Whiteley.