LA Schools Visit Bay Area in Crunch Time
April 2, 2012
Women's Water Polo Weekly Release - 4/2/12
STANFORD (18-1 Overall/4-0 MPSF) claimed a pair of MPSF wins over the weekend, 12-8 over Arizona State and 12-4 over San Diego State. Cassie Churnside and Kiley Neushul each posted hat tricks vs. SDSU, as did Kaley Dodson and Ashley Grossman vs. ASU. The Cardinal remained unbeaten in the conference, sitting in second between UCLA and USC, as the Trojans visit on Saturday (Apr. 7). Stanford took the first meeting on Feb. 4, 8-7.
USC (17-3 Overall/4-1 MPSF) won its fifth and sixth straight games with 19-5 and 10-7 home decisions over Hartwick and California, respectively. Dominique Sardo posted a hat trick and Flora Bolonyai collected 10 savesl in the conference win. Kaleigh Gilchrist and Colleen O'Donnell added two goals apiece. The Trojans close the MPSF schedule at San Jose State and Stanford this week. USC enters the week one-half game behind the Cardinal.
UCLA (16-1 Overall/5-0 MPSF) won its 10th straight game with an 8-4 outcome at Hawaii this past Saturday. Goalkeeper Caitlin Dement recorded 14 saves, holding Hawaii to one goal through the first three quarters. Kelly Ronimus and KK Clark scored two goals apiece. Unbeaten in the conference with two remaining, the Bruins return to action at California Saturday (Apr. 7).
ARIZONA STATE (21-5 Overall/3-3 MPSF) outlasted San Jose State on the road Sunday, 10-8, as the team tied a program record 21st win. Shannon Haas poured in a game-high four goals. Anna Kertes scored a game-high four goals at Stanford. ASU is off this week, in preparation for its MPSF finale at home Apr. 14 vs. Hawaii. A win in that game, couple with one California loss, bumps the Sun Devils up to a four seed in the conference tournament.
SAN JOSE STATE (14-9 Overall/2-4 MPSF) Anna Natalizio put away a career-high four goals, including the go-ahead strike in OT, as the Spartans edged San Diego State in overtime last Saturday (9-8). Meagan Minson matched her career-high 16 saves, including two in OT. Natalizio and Katie Buzzetta scored a hat trick each vs. ASU on Sunday. The Spartans, locked in the six seed for the MPSF Tournament, host USC Friday.
SAN DIEGO STATE (17-9 Overall/1-6 MPSF) wrapped up its conference schedule with weekend losses at San Jose State (9-8, OT) and Stanford (12-4). Meaghan Poland scored twice in each game. The Aztecs, as a result, are locked in to the seven seed for the MPSF Tournament (Apr. 27-29). Four games remain prior to that event, including the home finale Friday (Apr. 6) against Cal Baptist.
CALIFORNIA (16-6 Overall/3-2 MPSF) fell 10-7 at USC last Saturday, as Elizabeth McLaren and Breda Vosters scored twice each and Lindsay Dorst stopped nine shots. Two out of first with two remaining, the Bears play their final home game in MPSF action against top-ranked UCLA Saturday.
HAWAII (7-11 Overall/0-6 MPSF) was defeated at home by top-ranked UCLA, 8-4 last Saturday. Amarens Genee scored three of the four goals for the Rainbow Wahine in the final game of the season in Honolulu. Hawaii is off this week, and has four games remaining, including the MPSF finale at Arizona State on Apr. 14.
KALEIGH GILCHRIST KAP 7 MPSF PLAYER OF THE WEEK
USC sophomore Kaleigh Gilchrist (Newport Beach, CA/Newport Harbor HS) scored her second and third straight multiple-goal games last week, starting with a hat trick vs. No. 16 Hartwick before plugging in two more goals in the MPSF win over No. 5 California. Gilchrist was dominant at 2-meters in both games as she helped USC extend its win streak to six games.
Also Nominated: Caitlin Dement (UCLA); Kaley Dodson (STAN)
ASHLEY GROSSMAN KAP 7 MPSF NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Stanford freshman Ashley Grossman (Santa Monica, CA/Harvard-Westlake HS) posted a pair of hat tricks and combined for eight goals over three victories last week. Grossman netted three goals in each of Stanford's wins against Brown and No. 4 Arizona State, then scored twice in Sunday's 12-4 win over No. 8 San Diego State.
Also Nominated: Anna Kertes (ASU); Monica Vavic (USC)