Denver Comes Back at No. 8 Stanford
April 7, 2014
MPSF Lacrosse Release 8
# 20 DENVER (11-1 Overall, 5-0 MPSF) stayed unbeaten in the MPSF, extending its overall win streak to nine games, with road victories at No. 8 Stanford, 13-12, and UC Davis, 9-6. The Pioneers fought back in Palo Alto from a 6-0 hole in the first-half. Meredith Harris put away five goals, including the last of her four second-half goals as the game-winner with 6:41 to play. Sonorah Vineyard and Layne Voorhees each secured three draw controls. Sunday, Denver defeated UC Davis, 9-6, as Harris went for a hat trick and an assist, while Hannah Hook stopped seven shots. The outcome gave Coach Liza Kelly her 100th win in Denver. The 20th-ranked Pioneers host San Diego State Friday, and in a battle at the top of the MPSF, USC on Sunday. Hook ranks third nationally with a .506 save percentage, while Jill Remenapp shares the national assist lead with 3.00 per game.
USC (7-4 Overall, 5-0 MPSF) posted two more conference road wins to maintain its perfect MPSF record. The Trojans combined for 38 goals through wins at St. Mary's and California, 18-4 and 20-15 outcomes, respectively. Freshman Michaela Michael accumulated four goals, one assist, and 10 draw controls through the week, with seven of her draws coming in Berkeley.
OREGON (7-4 Overall, 3-0 MPSF) Shannon Propst became the school's all-time point leader, and the 10th player in MPSF history to reach 200, following the second of her five assists in a 19-7 win at St. Mary's. Oregon also won at California on last week's road swing, 16-7, as Nikki Puszcz tied her career-high five goals. She has 112 in her career, cracking the all-time Oregon top-five list. Puszcz went on for a hat trick, two assists, and three caused turnovers at SMC. Bella Pyne was three-for-three shooting in Moraga. Caroline Federighi dropped her MPSF-leading goals-against average to 7.50 following the two wins.
# 12 STANFORD (9-2 Overall, 3-1 MPSF) picked up a 13-5 MPSF home win this past Sunday over Colorado. Megan Lerner tallied eight draws (one shy of her own school record), three ground balls, and three caused turnovers. Hannah Farr delivered a hat trick, completing a five-goal week. Lucy Dikeou had three goals and five draws in the Denver game.
COLORADO (6-6 Overall, 3-2 MPSF) Johnna Fusco had a program-record five goals and Cali Castagnola added four in a 14-5 conference win at UC Davis last Friday. Fusco added three assists and two draws. Paige Soenksen collected nine saves, allowing just five, and went on to tie a 2014 MPSF-High 19 saves at Stanford. Her save percentage for the week was .609 (28-46). Through April 6, Soenksen ranks fourth nationally in save percentage (.502).
ST. MARY'S (0-9 Overall, 0-7 MPSF) Rachel Minarovich recorded nine more draw controls for the week, bringing her to within 15 of the all-time MPSF record set by Oregon's Jen May (2005-08). Minarovich is at the top of the conference with 5.44 per game this year. Krista Morgan had three goals against Oregon.
CALIFORNIA (2-8 Overall, 1-4 MPSF) Bella Huther equaled an all-time Cal record seven goals vs. USC this past Sunday, the fourth player in school history to achieve the feat. She also scored twice against Oregon for a nine-goal week.
SAN DIEGO STATE (6-5 Overall, 3-1 MPSF) Andrea Killibrew and Michaela Jarvis recorded three points apiece at No. 19 Navy last Wednesday. Grace Korandovich had three draw controls, while Christina Ricciardulli tallied two goals, draws, and caused turnovers to help the Aztecs hang with the top-20 Mids on the road.
UC DAVIS (6-6 Overall, 1-4 MPSF) Elizabeth Landry recorded a hat trick against Colorado, as did Courtney Neff against Denver. Landry has tallied the second-most goals in the MPSF this year with 33.
FRESNO STATE (1-9 Overall, 0-5 MPSF) Kara Concheck scored three goals against USC on March 28, and became the all-time Bulldog leader in goals (61) and points (69). Meganne Weissenfels recorded a career-high 13 saves, tied for fifth all-time at Fresno State.