Maggie Steffens and Kiley Neushul each scored four goals and the top-ranked Stanford women’s water polo tea, downed California, 13-6, in a semifinal match of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament Saturday at USC.
The Cardinal (21-1) meets UCLA in Sunday’s championship game for the automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. Stanford is looking for its first MPSF title since 2006.
The Bruins are the only team to beat Stanford this season, though the Cardinal returned the favor later in the season. UCLA beat Arizona State in their semifinal contest. The Sun Devils, seeded No. 6, upset No. 3 and defending NCAA champ USC on Friday, 10-9, in sudden death
The Cardinal beat Cal a 38th straight game, a streak that dates to 2000.
Neushul and Steffens combined for all five of Stanford’s first-period goals. The Cardinal scored the game’s first six goals.
Neushul scored 31 seconds into the game and Steffens added a power-play goal 49 seconds later.
Anna Yelizarova netted Stanford’s second extra-attacker goal as the second period got underway.
California managed to get on the board before Kaley Dodson and Annika Dries each scored on a man-advantage and Stanford held an 8-3 halftime edge.
Goalie Gabby Stone made five saves over the first three periods while Menlo-Atherton grad Emily Dorst came on for the final period and stopped a shot.
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics