April 28, 2012

STANFORD, CALIF. - Despite a pair of goals from junior Breda Vosters, No. 1-ranked Stanford claimed the first spot in the MPSF Championship final with a 12-5 victory over tournament fifth-seed Cal Saturday (April 28) afternoon at Avery Aquatic Center.

The Cardinal broke open a 7-5 game late in the third period, scoring five straight goals to go up 12-5 with just over four minutes remaining in the match. Pallavi Menon, who scored three times, and Kiley Neushul each scored in the final 38 seconds of the third period to open the run.

The Golden Bears (18-8) had pulled to within two goals twice, at 5-3 and again at 7-5, before the Cardinal defense clamped down, holding Cal scoreless over the final 11:50 of the contest.

Besides Vosters' two goals, senior Elizabeth McLaren and sophomores Ashley Young and Kelly Mendoza also scored for the Bears. Junior goalie Lindsay Dorst finished with six saves. Vosters leads the team in scoring this year with 48 goals in 24 matches. Cal is now 1-1 in the MPSF Tournament after defeating Arizona State, 13-12 in overtime, Friday.

Stanford will face No. 2 UCLA in Sunday's final at 4 p.m. The Bears move on to the third-place game at 2:30 p.m. Sunday versus No. 3-seed USC. The Trojans had fallen to the Bruins, 4-3, in the other MPSF tournament semifinal. Cal has lost to USC three times this season.

Last season, Richard Corso's squad had captured the 2011 MPSF Tournament and ended the year finishing as the national runners-up after falling to Stanford, 9-5, in the NCAA finals.

California - 1 2 2 0 = 5

Stanford - 3 3 3 3 = 12

California Goal Scorers - Breda Vosters 2, Elizabeth McLaren, Kelly Mendoza, Ashley Young

Stanford Goal Scorers - Menon 3, Grossman 2, A. Lo 2, Neushul 2, Churnside, K. Dodson, K. Lo Goalie Saves: - Baldoni 7, E. Dorst 2 (S); Lindsay Dorst 6 (C)