UCLA Wins Fifth-Straight NCAA Title
May 13, 2009
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UCLA (5-2 MPSF, 25-6 overall) won its fifth straight NCAA Championship, and seventh overall, edging No. 1 seed USC 5-4 Sunday in College Park, MD. Head Coach Adam Krikorian also guided the Bruins to their 11th overall national title as he leaves the program for the United States National Team. UCLA scored two goals in the first minute of play, both by Tanya Gandy, who ended the game with a hat trick and a fourth national title. Brittany Fullen recorded 13 saves. In the semifinals, the Bruins outlasted No. 2 Stanford at the final buzzer, 12-11, as Megan Burmeister put the squad into the finals. UCLA has won its last 17 NCAA Tournament games and is 20-1 all-time in the event.
USC (7-0 MPSF, 26-2 overall) finished as NCAA runner-up for the third time in the last four years with wins over No. 8 seed Cal Lutheran (22-2) and No. 4 seed Hawaii (17-5), before the championship loss to No. 3 seed UCLA (5-4). Goalkeeper Tumua Anae recorded 11 saves in the final game, including four in the third period en route to a second half shutout. Kami Craig, Alex Kiss, and Michelle Stein each recorded hat tricks in the semifinal against Hawaii, while Nadia Dan tallied four goals in the first-round win over CLU.
STANFORD (6-1 MPSF, 26-4 overall) won its third-place game over No. 4 seed Hawaii, 14-11, behind a career-day from senior Lauren Silver, who poured in eight goals in her final collegiate outing. Silver also had a hat trick in the 21-5 first-round win over No. 7 seed Marist, as did Kira Hillman, Cassie Churnside and Pallavi Menon. Silver's four goals in the semifinal loss to the Bruins gave her 15 in the tournament, while Kelly Eaton added three. The Cardinal has finished in the top-three at the NCAA Tournament in all nine years of the event.
HAWAII (3-4 MPSF, 19-10 overall) placed fourth nationally with an NCAA first-round win over No. 5 seed Loyola Marymount (11-7), followed by losses to No. 1 seed USC (17-5) and No. 2 seed Stanford (14-11). In the win over the Lions, the Wahine scored three unanswered goals in the final period to secure a semifinal spot. Leonie Van Der Molen scored four goals, while Dagmar Genee scored twice. Serena Bredin picked up eight saves, including one on a penalty shot. Saara Majuri and Lisa Van Raalte nailed hat tricks in the third-place game.