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No. 2 Stanford Captures 10-9 Overtime Thriller Against No. 5 Hawai'i
March 24, 2008
HONOLULU, Hawai'i - Despite a 15-day layoff from competition due to final exams, the second-ranked Stanford women's water polo team resumed its winning ways with a hard-fought 10-9 overtime win against No. 5 Hawai'i Monday night. Kira Hillman's second goal of the game at 2:13 of the second overtime gave the Cardinal (15-3, 5-1 MPSF) the win and dealt Hawai'i (12-4, 5-1 MPSF) its first conference loss. The back-and-forth action started from the get-go Monday, as neither team ever led by more than a goal the entire contest. Nine ties and five lead changes occured in the game, all the way up until the final goal. Eaton's goal with 1:17 left in regulation forced overtime with the score tied 8-8, and each team scored once in the first session of extra time. Gauthier put the Cardinal up 9-8 with 1:10 to go, but Hawai'i's Angela Turnbull completed her hat trick with the equalizer with 41 seconds to go in the period. The Stanford defense stepped up in the second session, though, as Amber Oland, who stopped 11 shots on the day, made a save in the second overtime to allow Hillman's goal to stand up for the win. Hillman, Koree Blyleven, and Lauren Silver each scored twice for the Cardinal, while additional goals were posted by Eaton, Gauthier, Allie Gerrity, and Megan May. Stanford, despite taking a 2-1 lead after the first period, gave up six goals over the next two and trailed 7-6 heading into the final eight minutes of action. But the goals from Silver and Eaton gave the Cardinal new life and provided the opportunity to steal the victory in overtime.
The Cardinal will return home for a doubleheader this Saturday, March 29, battling Brown at 1 p.m. then Long Beach State at 7 p.m. at Avery Stadium. Stanford - 2 1 3 2 1 1 = 10 Stanford Goal Scorers: Blyleven 2, Hillman 2, Silver 2, Eaton, Gauthier, Gerrity, May |
