April 09, 2004

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Palo Alto Online

It's life without Olympians

by Rick Eymer

If everything goes according to the master plan, the Stanford women's water polo team hopes this weekend's final two regular-season home matches won't be the last time they play in front of their home fans.

After all, Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center is the site of this year's NCAA Final Four - always the ultimate goal for the Cardinal.

This has been a significantly different kind of season for No. 2 Stanford, which had to endure the absence of three graduating All-Americans, including 2000 Olympian Brenda Villa and National Goalie of the Year Jackie Frank. Menlo School grad Julie Gardner also graduated.

Despite the loss of three of the most talented players in the country, coach John Tanner has his team focused and ready to compete for another national title. Stanford has reached the title match in each of the past three years, winning the 2002 championship.

"This is a pretty determined group," said Tanner, who takes a 167-25 career mark into tonight's 7 p.m. game against California. "They want to go toe-to-toe with the best teams. That's why we played the national team. They want to see how they rate with the best players in the world."

Stanford's 14-7 loss to the U.S. National Team, which featured Villa, Frank, and former Stanford greats Ellen Estes and Margie Dingeldein, was a great test. The Cardinal won't face a better team all season.

It also points out just how successful Stanford has become in the sport. Even without the go-to players like Villa and Estes, the Cardinal still find themselves among the nation's elite.

"We have a lot of people playing and scoring," said Tanner, a Menlo-Atherton High grad and former Stanford water polo All-American. "It's definitely spread around this season. Some of these players will have a chance to make the 2008 team but no one is at the school who are the elite in the world like Brenda or Ellen. We've had to rely on a lot of freshmen and sophomores."

Stanford (6-1, 14-3) features three seniors, including leading scorer Wendy Watkins (25 goals), and two juniors, including Hannah Luber (21 goals), but Tanner doesn't hesitate to use as many as 12 players in a match on a regular basis.

"The team is young but very talented," he said. "There's a lot of water polo experience but not as many older players. This team is talented enough to win the national title. They just don't have the world championship or Olympic experience we've had in the past."

Undefeated and top-ranked Southern California seems to stand in the way this year, and perennial contender UCLA, ranked third, is not far behind. Stanford won't play USC again until at least the MPSF tournament in Los Alamitos at the end of the month, and hopefully in the NCAA championships on May 8-9. The Cardinal travels to UCLA for an important matchup on April 18.

The MPSF tournament winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA championships. The second-place team likely will receive the at-large bid. Only two teams from the MPSF will make the NCAA Final Four, and the conference has seven of the nation's top eight ranked teams.

The Women of Troy have a number of players with international experience but Tanner thinks Stanford is getting closer, despite losing all three of its matches against USC this season.

"The last time we played, we out shot them and had the same number of 6-of-5 opportunities," he said. "They did a better job of finishing."

In the third quarter of that April 3rd contest, Stanford took six shots without converting. USC had four shots, and scored three goals.

"We're just looking to get better at everything," said Tanner. "The team defense is good and the ability to see and read things at a faster pace is starting to come along."

California, ranked eighth in the nation, represents another challenge.

"They came at you in waves," said Tanner. "They have five or six different people who can play the two-meter spot. They're a good team but they've just been inconsistent."

While Watkins and Luber lead the team in scoring, there are six players with 10 or more goals on the season, including Palo Alto grad Laurel Champion with 10. Katie Hansen, Lauren Faust and Scotti Shafer have all reached double figures.

Watkins, a third-team All-American last year, developed into a scorer after being one of the team's top defenders in her first three years. "She's a creative player and has always been a great 1-on-1 defender," said Tanner.

Faust and Shannon Avret, the other seniors, have also helped Stanford keep its focus this season. The senior class has a chance to end their careers with a 94-8 mark.

"Lauren tends to make big plays," said Tanner. "She always seems to be around the ball doing something amazing. Shannon is a good driver, and a smart perimeter player. She's clever on offense."

Hansen and Meridith McColl have been two of the major impact freshmen. Hansen has been a factor on offense, while McColl has had to replace Frank in the goal.

McColl, a four-time Junior Olympic All-American, has responded with a 4.28 saves per game average.

McColl played with Shafer, Champion, and Alison Gregorka on last year's Junior National team.

Menlo School grad Anne-Marie Keenan, who joined the coaching staff as a volunteer assistant after spending two years playing in Sicily, also brings valuable experience to this year's team.

"She brings the international experience with her and has spent time with the national team," said Tanner. "She knows first hand what it's like to play here and why things are run they way they are."

Hopefully, it will wind up with another home match in May.

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