April 23, 2005

BERKELEY, CA - Freshman Molly Hayes scored with 33 second left to get California within one, but Stanford ran out the final seconds on the way to a 9-8 victory over the Golden Bears Saturday night in the women's water polo version of The Big Splash at Spieker Aquatics Complex. No. 7 Cal fell to 14-9 overall and 5-6 in the MPSF, while the No. 3 Cardinal improved to 18-5 overall and 9-3 in the MPSF.

In a spirited match, the Bears outscored Stanford, 3-2, in the final period, but a long shot by Cardinal Katie Hansen with 1:15 left in the match proved to be the difference. Hansen finished as Stanford's leading scorer with three goals.

Cal's Allison Gold tallied the first score of the final period on a bounce shot off the water with 5:49 in the fourth to get to Bears within 7-6. The Cardinal, quickly counter with a goal by Scottie Shafer with 4:20 left. Hayes then got Cal back within one, 8-7, with her first score of the evening with 3:22 in the match, only to see Hansen score her third goal on a long shot that was deflected by a field player for a 9-7 advantage.

The teams were tied at the half, 4-4. In the first period, Hansen scored a pair of goals, and Hannah Luber also notched a goal for the Cardinal, while Elsie Windes, Brittani Llorente and Annie Wight scored for the Bears. In the second quarter, Stanford's Laurel Championship scored at 3:07 in the half. But, Windes was able to tie the contest with a nine-meter shot just as the shot clock was expiring at 1:25 in the half.

The Cardinal kept the pressure on the Bears by outscoring Cal 3-1 in the third period on goals by Christina Hewko, Shafer and Alison Gregorka. The Bears lone goal in the third was on a shot by Lauren McGee off a Windes' assist with 2:39 left in the period.

Both goalies play well in the match, with Stanford's Meridith McColl recording 11 saves, and Cal's Alex Feune de Colombi finishing with nine saves.

The Bears will next host Pacific, Sunday, Apr. 24 at 12 p.m. at Spieker Aquatics Complex, before hosting the MPSF Championship, Apr. 28-May 1 at Spieker Aquatics.

Stanford 9 California 8
Stan 3 1 3 2 -- 9
Cal 3 1 1 3 -- 8
Goals - Cal - Molly Hayes 2, Elsie Windes 2,
Allison Gold, Brittani Llorente,
Lauren McGee, Annie Wight.
Stan - Katie Hansen 3, Scottie Shafer 2,
Laurel Champion, Alison Gregorka,
Christina Hewko, Hannah Luber.
Saves - Cal - Alex Feune de Colombi 9.
Stan - Meridith McColl 11.