Stanford Wins UC Irvine Invitational
Feb. 24, 2009
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STANFORD (1-0 MPSF, 11-1 overall) claimed the UC Irvine Invitational for the second time in the last three years, edging top-ranked USC in sudden-victory overtime (12-11). Freshman Melissa Seidemann combined for 10 tournament goals, including the sudden-victory title-clincher. The Cardinal also defeated No. 3 Hawaii (11-10) in the semi-final, and UC San Diego (16-6) and San Jose State (13-7) on the first day. Stanford hosts San Jose State in MPSF action Saturday (Feb. 28).
USC (0-0 MPSF, 10-1 overall) won three of four and was the UCI Invitational runner-up following the 12-11 sudden-victory OT loss to No. 2 Stanford. The Trojans earned wins over Arizona State (13-4), UC Santa Barbara (16-3) and No. 4 UCLA (8-7). Goalkeeper Ilsa van der Meijden combined for 48 saves on the weekend (12 SPG). The Trojans head north to California for conference play Saturday (Feb. 28).
UCLA (2-0 MPSF, 11-3 overall) won four of five games this past week, including a win over No. 3 Hawaii in the MPSF last Thursday (11-8). The Bruins handed California its first loss of the year in Irvine (9-4), and added wins against Long Beach State (18-2) and Hawaii (12-7) in the invitational to place third. Anne Belden totaled 10 goals in five games. UCLA travels to Arizona State Saturday (Feb. 28) as conference action continues.
HAWAII (0-3 MPSF, 8-6 overall) won two of five games this past week, beginning with an MPSF loss at UCLA (11-8). The Rainbow Wahine then split four games in Irvine and finished in fourth-place, topping CS Northridge (14-10) and San Diego State (9-5) Saturday, before falling to UCLA (12-7) and Stanford (11-10) Sunday. Hawaii does not compete until Arizona State visits on Mar. 11.
SAN DIEGO STATE (0-1 MPSF, 9-2 overall) won the fifth-place game over Arizona State (10-8), following wins over San Jose State (8-7) and Michigan (10-6). The Aztecs stay outside of MPSF play this week, hosting UC Irvine Saturday (Feb. 28).
ARIZONA STATE (0-0 MPSF, 9-5 overall) finished sixth with a 2-2 record on the weekend. The Sun Devils beat UC Davis (9-6) and upset No. 5 California (11-10), and lost to USC (13-4) and San Diego State in the fifth-place game (10-8). ASU rallied back from a three-goal deficit to give the Bears just their second loss this year. Sophomore Nikki Unbehaun scored four goals in that game. ASU hosts UCLA Saturday (Feb. 28) in conference action.
CALIFORNIA (1-0 MPSF, 15-2 overall) split its four games to take seventh-place at the UCI Invitational with wins over San Jose State (9-6) and UC Irvine (10-7), and losses to Arizona State (11-10) and UCLA (9-4). Paige Lorenz scored three goals and Camille Hewko added two in the seventh-place win over the Spartans. The Bears compete in their MPSF home opener Saturday (Feb. 28) against No. 1 USC.
SAN JOSE STATE (1-1 MPSF, 8-8 overall) placed eighth in Irvine with a win over Loyola Marymount (9-8), and losses to Stanford (13-7), San Diego State (8-7) and California (9-6). Adrianna Vogt scored four goals in the seventh-place game vs. Cal. The Spartans visit Stanford in MPSF action Saturday (Feb. 28).
SEIDEMANN MPSF MIKASA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Woodland, Calif. - Stanford freshman two-meter Melissa Seidemann (Walnut Creek, CA/ College Park HS) combined for 10 goals in four games (2.50 GPG) as the Cardinal won the UC Irvine Invitational Title. She put away her third weekend hat trick, as well as the championship-clincher in a 12-11 sudden-victory overtime win over top-ranked and previously unbeaten USC. Seidemann also recorded four goals in the semi-final win over No. 3 Hawaii.