Nov. 3, 2007

Box Score

STANFORD, Calif. - Top-seeded California lost to second-seeded Stanford, 3-1, in the final of the NorPac Championship on Saturday afternoon at Varsity Artificial Turf Field, handing the Cardinal a shot at the NCAA Tournament and snapping Cal's 18-game winning streak over its rival. The Golden Bears season is effectively over, as Stanford will now host an NCAA play-in game against Northeast Conference champion Lock Haven on Tuesday, Nov. 6. The Bears' record fell to 12-6, while the Cardinal improved to 12-7.

Before today, the last time Stanford had beaten Cal was in 2001. The Bears had beaten the Cardinal twice this season before the NorPac Championship.

"In the past we've been able to overcome their early aggressiveness and enthusiasm," Cal head coach Shellie Onstead said. "They were able to keep up their energy and enthusiasm throughout the game, which I don't' think they were able to do before. It's always a really emotional game. I think it was almost too emotional for us. It was hard for us to settle down and play."

Junior forward Ashley Glosz put the Bears on the scoreboard first with her eighth goal of the season in the 17th minute. Junior midfielder Andrea Lo started the play with a penalty corner and junior defender Rachel Moffitt made the ensuing stick stop. From the top of the circle, Bears junior midfielder Carolina Bistue passed the ball to Glosz, who fired past Stanford goalkeeper Madison Bell from close range. Bistue's assist was her team-high eighth of the year.

"That felt good," Onstead said. "That was a corner we've been working on all year. We hadn't unveiled it, and we knew it would come in handy at the right moment. That was a real boost. I figure that got us on a roll. But they came right back and scored, and we had a real battle on our hands."

Junior forward Ashley Glosz put the Bears on the scoreboard first with her eighth goal of the season. Junior midfielder Andrea Lo started the play with a penalty corner and junior defender Rachel Moffitt made the ensuing stick stop. From the top of the circle, Bears junior midfielder Carolina Bistue passed the ball to Glosz, who fired past Stanford goalkeeper Madison Bell from close range. Bistue's assist was her team-high eighth of the year.

In the 19th minute, Katherine Swank passed from the top of the circle to Katherine Donner, who converted past Cal junior goalkeeper Kelly Knoche to tie the match at 1-1.

Xanthe Travlos wove through the Cal defense and finished in the 23rd minute to give Stanford a 2-1 lead that it took into halftime.

Cal had the edge in shots, 6-3, and penalty corners, 3-2, at the break.

Jess Zutz, assisted by Camille Gandhi, scored Stanford's final goal in the 67th minute to make the score 3-1.

Cal put three players - Glosz, Moffitt and junior defender Christina McGrath - on the NorPac all-tournament team. Stanford's Bailey Richardson was named the tournament MVP.

"I'm really proud of them," Onstead of her trio of Bears on the all-tourney team. "Ashley played a fantastic game. She played her heart out. With Rocky and Christina, sometimes defenders go unnoticed because they don't have a lot of stats, but it's a real honor and it's well-deserved."

Cal is losing two seniors - forward Jennifer Crane and goalkeeper Liz Braasch - from this year's team. Crane, who saw her six-game goalscoring streak end today, ends the season as Cal's leading scorer (28 points) and goalscorer (12) in 2007. Braasch, who did not play today, ended the year with a 1.35 goals-against average.

"I'm real said right now, but it was a great four years, and I wouldn't change it for anything," Crane said.

"Jenny's put in an amazing four years and been super productive," Onstead added. "I wish her all the best. And Liz is really unique. To come in a program, leave and come back and give us whatever she could after a two- or three-year layoff, she was fantastic. I'm glad she was able to do it."

GAME SUMMARY

Goal Summary

Cal - Ashley Glosz (Carolina Bistue) 16:22
Stanford - Katherine Donner (Katherine Swank) 18:25
Stanford - Xanthe Travlos 22:10
Stanford - Jess Zutz (Camille Gandhi) 66:03

Goals by Period
	         1	2	F
Stanford	         2	1	3
California	1	0	1
		
Green Cards

Cal #25 21:38. Stanford #22 29:31.