USC Wins MPSF Championship

4/27/2009 12:00:00 AM

April 27, 2009

USC (7-0 MPSF, 24-1 overall) won the MPSF Championship in Honolulu, HI, 6-5 over Stanford. The Trojans were down 4-1 at the half, not taking their first lead until 47 seconds left in regulation when Forel Davies tallied. That lead held up for the conference title and automatic berth into the NCAA Championships, May 8-10, in Maryland. Michelle Stein scored three goals and Tumua Anae recorded 10 saves. USC is the No. 1 seed in the NCAA's and faces No. 8 Cal Lutheran in the first-round Friday, May 8. The MPSF Title is the first for USC since 2004, and second all-time.

STANFORD (6-1 MPSF, 24-3 overall) was the runner-up in Hawaii with wins over San Diego State (13-6) and UCLA (11-10, OT), and a narrow championship loss to USC (6-5). In the semifinal win over the Bruins, Alex Koran netted the game-winner in the second OT period. Lauren Silver put away three goals and Amber Oland recorded 14 saves in the cage. Koran scored four goals in the first-round win over the Aztecs. The Cardinal is the No. 2 seed at the NCAA Tournament, first meeting No. 7 Marist Friday, May 8.

UCLA (5-2 MPSF, 22-6 overall) won the third-place game over California, 8-7. The Bruins were involved in three one-goal outcomes in the tournament, also defeating host Hawaii 8-7 and coming up short to Stanford 11-10 in OT. Tanya Gandy scored the game-winner with 1:37 left in the fourth quarter vs. Cal to take third. Priscilla Orozco scored four goals in the quarterfinal win while Katie Rulon also posted a hat trick. The Bruins are the No. 3 seed at the NCAA Tournament, May 8-10, and take on No. 6 Michigan in the first-round.

CALIFORNIA (3-4 MPSF, 31-8 overall) finished fourth with a 1-2 tournament weekend, defeating San Jose State (12-8), before losing to USC (7-4) and UCLA (8-7). Freshman goalkeeper Stephanie Peckham collected 10 saves in the third-place game vs. the Bruins. Peckham had 12 saves in the opening-round win as well as in the semifinal loss, for a 34-save tournament. Camille Hewko nailed a hat trick against the Spartans.

HAWAII (3-4 MPSF, 18-8 overall) won two of three as it hosted this year's MPSF Tournament to finish fifth. The Rainbow Wahine were edged by No. 3 UCLA (8-7) on day one, but later got by No. 7 San Diego State in overtime (10-9) and No. 5 San Jose State (8-7). Saara Majuri nailed the game-winner with 23 seconds left in OT vs. SDSU, her lone goal of the game. Dagmar Genee recorded a hat trick. Monika Eggens and Leonie Van Der Molen each scored twice against SJSU. The Wahine received an NCAA At-Large berth as the No. 4 seed, taking on No. 5 LMU on May 8.

SAN JOSE STATE (3-4 MPSF, 20-14 overall) placed sixth with losses to California (12-8) and Hawaii (8-7), and a win over Arizona State (16-13). All-MPSF selections Juliet Moss and Tanya Torres each scored twice in their final collegiate outings vs. UH. Adrianna Vogt had an eight-goal tournament, while Moss and Torres both totaled six. San Jose State recorded its first 20-win season since 2000.

SAN DIEGO STATE (1-6 MPSF, 23-11 overall) won its seventh-place game over Arizona State, 12-11. The Aztecs jumped out to a 4-1 first quarter lead and never looked back. All-MPSF honoree Anna Gonzales poured in four goals, while Erinn Greenwood added three. Ronni Gautschi had four goals in the Saturday overtime loss to Hawaii (10-9).

ARIZONA STATE (0-7 MPSF, 13-15 overall) took eighth with losses to USC (12-6), San Jose State (16-13) and San Diego State (12-11). First-Team All-MPSF honoree Addison McGrath scored four goals in the seventh-place game, giving her 11 for the tournament and a school-record 237 for her career.