Stanford (12-2, 8-0 MPSF) crushed UC Davis (3-13, 3-6) in a 15-6 victory to secure the MPSF regular season title — its first since 2011. The Cardinal were dominant from the get-go, scoring 7 goals in the last 8:04 of the half to make the game 11-0 at halftime, spoiling the first game of UC Davis’s Senior Week.
Stanford owned the ball in the first half, barely allowing the Aggies a possession, while the defense forced 15 turnovers in the first half. Freshman goalkeeper Allie DaCar had almost no work to do and saved the only shot she faced all game long. She was spelled at halftime by junior Katie Wiseman, who saved 5 of 13 shots. Fifth-year senior attack Rachel Ozer and senior midfielder Hannah Farr continued their impressive season. Ozer took only 1 shot on the game, instead setting up her teammates to score as she dished out 3 assists. Farr, who added an assist and 4 goals on 5 shots, has now scored 26 goals on the season. At one point, the Cardinal led 13-0, with 11 players scoring for Stanford throughout the game.
UC Davis, however, fought back; facing Stanford’s second unit, the Aggies won the second half 6-4. Sophomore attack Melissa Kellen broke the goose egg for the Aggies, followed by a goal by junior midfielder Mary Doyle. Junior midfielder Courtney Neff added three straight and Doyle scored with 1:10 left to end a tough night for the Aggies, who will go from playing the best to worst in conference, facing a winless St. Mary’s team on Saturday.
Although junior Lucy Dikeou had a quiet game, with only a goal and an assist, she has been honored as a nominee for the Tewaaraton Award, given to the sport’s best player at the end of the season.
Stanford will take the number one seed heading into the conference tournament, putting it in the best possible position to make the NCAA tournament. Should the team win, it will finish with its first perfect record since the MPSF expanded to encompass 10 teams.
But first, the Cardinal face Cal to close MPSF regular season play. The Golden Bears have had a rough season, going 3-12 and 2-6 in conference. The team stands in second-to-last place in the MPSF, edging out the winless St. Mary’s team.
Stanford takes on Cal in Berkeley at noon on Sunday, April 26.
Contact Nic Radoff at nradoff ‘at’ stanford.edu.