Women's Water Polo Weekly Release
April 7, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
UCLA added two more wins to extend its overall win streak to 32 and remain atop the MPSF standings at 10-0. The No. 1 Bruins took out No. 6 California 10-4 and Pacific 13-6 at home over the weekend. Nine different players found the back of the cage against the Tigers, while junior Katie Rulon put away a hat trick against the Bears. UCLA raced out to a quick 3-0 lead in the Cal game and were never caught. The Bruins never trailed all weekend, with only one tie. The regular season concludes this weekend in Westwood, as San Diego State and Arizona State round out the conference schedule. One win for the Bruins locks up a No. 1 seed for the conference tournament later this month.
STANFORD defeated CS Northridge 13-4 and then won a major MPSF battle at No. 3 USC 8-7 in overtime. Junior Lauren Silver scored four goals at CSUN, while sophomore Kelly Eaton had the same output against the Trojans, including the game-tying score with 45 seconds to go in regulation. Stanford broke the game open in the first OT session with three goals. The win at USC puts the Cardinal in sole possession of second place, in preparation for the "Big Splash" against California Friday (Apr. 11).
USC split two home games, edged by No. 2 Stanford 8-7 in overtime before a 15-4 triumph over No. 9 San Jose State. The Spartans were held scoreless in the second and third quarters. Ten players scored in that game, led by senior Miranda Nichols' four fourth quarter goals. The Trojans host Hawaii Friday (Apr. 11) in a top-five MPSF battle.
HAWAII topped No. 8 UC Irvine 13-9 last Friday in an MPSF game in Honolulu. The Rainbow Wahine used a 5-1 second quarter to pull away from the Anteaters. Junior Kelly Mason scored four goals and freshman goalkeeper Sara Gralitzer tallied 14 saves. A Southern California swing is on the horizon, at No. 5 San Diego State, UC San Diego, and Long Beach State (Apr. 8, 9, 11).
SAN DIEGO STATE won two games in nearby La Jolla Saturday, 12-2 over Chapman and 6-5 over No. 19 UC San Diego in the annual Harder Cup. Junior Jenna Schuster combined for six goals on the day, four against Chapman. Junior Anna Gonzales tallied four, including a hat trick against the Tritons. Senior goalkeeper Heather Fenske posted nine saves. Tuesday (Apr. 8) features a top-five MPSF showdown, as No. 4 Hawaii visits the No. 5 Aztecs.
ARIZONA STATE edged No. 17 UC Santa Barbara Saturday 5-4. The Sun Devils earned the 100th win in the short history of their program (seven years). ASU also won its seventh straight, a new team record. Junior Addison McGrath scored three of the five goals and senior goalkeeper Caylinn Wallace stopped seven shots. ASU visits CSUN and No. 1 UCLA this weekend.
SAN JOSE STATE junior Juliet Moss nailed a school record seven goals in a 14-6 win at No. 15 CS Northridge Saturday. Sophomore Bridget McKee's four goals and senior Beth Harberts' three provided the rest of the scoring. The Spartans dropped a 15-4 contest the next day at No. 3 USC, as McKee scored twice more. UC Irvine visits on Saturday (Apr. 12).
CALIFORNIA split two games on the road, falling 10-4 at No. 1 UCLA and beating No. 17 UC Santa Barbara 8-6. Senior Heather Stuart collected nine saves at UCSB. Sophomore Meghan Corso totaled four goals on the weekend. The Bears take on No. 2 Stanford Friday (Apr. 11) in Palo Alto.
UC IRVINE senior Jessica Lewis and junior Julia Fancher each scored twice in a 13-9 loss at No. 4 Hawaii Friday. The Anteaters topped No. 15 CS Northridge earlier in the week 7-5, as Lewis also scored twice. UCI heads to San Jose State Sat. (Apr. 12).
UC SANTA BARBARA nearly stunned No. 7 Arizona State at home, but came up short 5-4. Senior Jenny Gonzales had one of her best games in goal, stopping six shots and holding the Sun Devils to nearly five goals below their average. She also had nine saves in a close 8-6 loss to No. 6 California. Pacific visits UCSB Sunday (Apr. 13).
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE fell in three MPSF games this past week, 7-5 at No. 8 UC Irvine, 13-4 to No. 2 Stanford and 14-6 to No. 9 San Jose State. Senior Dayna Van Gorder scored three goals against the Cardinal and sophomore goalkeeper Jillian Stapf recorded 11 saves in that game, and 13 more in Irvine. Junior Jessica Coy also had a hat trick against the Spartans. The Matadors visit Arizona State Saturday (Apr. 12) and host San Diego State Sunday (Apr. 13).
LONG BEACH STATE came up short to No. 11 Loyola Marymount at home Thursday 7-5. Freshman Kristen Stragier had seven saves in the cage and freshman Lauren Sieprath scored twice. The 49ers host Hawaii Friday (Apr. 11) in MPSF action, followed by the Long Beach Mini Tournament Sunday (Apr. 13).
PACIFIC lost 13-6 at top-ranked UCLA Sunday. Senior Virginia McConnell scored twice. The Tigers travel to Cal Baptist Saturday (Apr. 12) and return to MPSF play at UCSB Sunday (Apr. 13).
EATON NAMED MPSF MIKASA PLAYER OF THE WEEK Woodland, Calif. - Stanford sophomore Kelly Eaton (Menlo Park, CA/Menlo-Atherton HS) combined for six goals in two road games to help Stanford into sole possession of second place with three games remaining. She scored twice in a 13-4 win over No. 15 CS Northridge, before nailing a game-high four goals in a monumental 8-7 overtime win at No. 3 USC. Eaton's final goal in that contest was perhaps the most important, as she struck with 45 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 5-5 and ultimately force overtime. This is the second MPSF honor for Stanford this year, with senior Lauren Silver earning this weekly award on March 3.