Stanford Snaps USC's 27-Game Win Streak
March 31, 2014
MPSF Women's Water Polo Release 12
STANFORD (16-1 Overall, 2-0 MPSF) backed by a career-high 13 saves by goalkeeper Gabby Stone, and a defense which allowed just five goals and shut down five of six power plays, Stanford put a halt to top-ranked USC's 27-game win streak dating to last year, 9-5. USC was averaging nearly 16 goals per game. Down 3-2 late in the second quarter, the Cardinal exploded for six unanswered goals over the next six minutes to take an 8-3 lead in the third. Cory Dodson and Maggie Steffens were the multiple-goal scorers for the Cardinal with two apiece.
USC (20-1 Overall, 4-1 MPSF) erased a three-goal first-half deficit at San Jose State this past Saturday to win 10-9. Colleen O' Donnell scored a hat trick in the win, and went on for a seven-goal week. Flora Bolonyai collected 30 saves in less than three full games for the week, including12 in Palo Alto. Stephania Haralabidis scored four goals to lead a group of 10 scorers in the 21-5 home win over Hartwick.
UCLA (20-2 Overall, 2-0 MPSF) picked up an MPSF road victory this past Thursday, 11-8 at California, as Emily Donohoe and Rachel Fattal poured in game-highs of four goals apiece. Sami Hill collected 12 saves in the cage, and went on for a 10-save game at Hawaii in a 5-4 Bruin win. The Bruins are in Bakersfield this weekend for another MPSF road game.
SAN JOSE STATE (18-10 Overall, 0-3 MPSF) came within one goal of top-ranked USC this past Saturday. Clara Espar Llaquet shared a game-high three goals, giving her 88 in her freshman season, and breaking Adriana Vogt's all-time Spartan single-season record of 86. She is two goals away from becoming the ninth MPSF player all-time to reach 90 goals in a season.
CALIFORNIA (17-5 Overall, 2-2 MPSF) pulled away from No. 7 CS Northridge this past Saturday on "Ashley Young" Day. Young is the lone Cal senior, and was recognized prior to her final home game. She went on for a hat trick in the 15-10 win, scoring twice in the fourth quarter, while Dora Antal and Anna Illes also put away three goals on the day. The outcome also snapped the Matadors' 11-game win streak.
BAKERSFIELD (12-17 Overall, 0-3 MPSF) Janelle Shelby poured in a game-high five goals, while Courtney Wahlstrom collected 11 saves at California on Mar. 23. The Roadrunners play their first home game of the season on April 5 against UCLA.
ARIZONA STATE (13-6 Overall, 1-2 MPSF) is off until visiting Stanford and San Jose State, April 5 & 6. The Sun Devils had no trouble in their own invitational, Mar 14-16, allowing a total of six goals through four wins. The Sun Devils beat Marist 14-1, Occidental 16-1, Whittier 20-1, and in an MPSF game, Bakersfield, 14-3. Petra Pardi scored 12 goals in three games, logging three or more goals on three separate occasions. She scored four goals against the Roadrunners and five more against Occidental, giving her five games in her career of scoring at least five and matching the ASU school record.