March 27, 2011

DAVIS, Calif. - Despite two goals each from utility Jessica Dunn, attacker Carmen Eggert and center Alicia Began, 15th-ranked UC Davis was unable to overcome an early deficit, falling to No. 1 Stanford by a 12-6 final in women's collegiate water polo action at Schaal Aquatics Center Sunday.

The Aggies move to 16-7 for the year. The Cardinal stays unbeaten at 18-0.

Dunn scored from outside in the first quarter then converted an assist from Eggert midway through the fourth for her two goals. Eggert hit her first goal at 6:50 in the second then planted a lob from the one position early in the fourth. Began scored on a cross pass from Rachel Smith in the final minute of the third period then fired a cross-cage missile with 50 seconds left in the game.

For Stanford, sophomore Annika Dries and junior Alyssa Lo each tallied four goals. Dries spread one goal across each period while Lo piled up four goals in the first 11 minutes of the game. Junior two meter Melissa Seidemann also performed a hat trick for the Cardinal. She scored from down low for the contest's first goal then hit a five-meter penalty shot later in the opening frame.

Stanford held a 9-2 lead at halftime and an 11-3 edge through three quarters. Dries' goal from two meters bumped the Cardinal lead to nine before UC Davis made a late charge in the final six minutes. Besides the three Aggie goals, junior goalkeeper Rachel Tatusko provided a defensive highlight when she left the cage to foil a Stanford counterattack with 1:42 remaining.

The Aggies enter the Big West Conference portion of their schedule, taking on Cal State Northridge and UC Santa Barbara in road action on Saturday and Sunday.

GOALS - Stanford: Alyssa Lo 4, Annika Dries 4, Melissa Seidemann 3, Kaley Dodson 1. UC Davis: Jessica Dunn 2, Carmen Eggert 2, Alicia Began 2.

GOALIE SAVES - Stanford: Kate Baldoni 7 (16:00), Amber Oland 6 (16:00). UC Davis: Riane Woods 3 (16:00), Rachel Tatusko 4 (16:00).

Game Scoresheet in PDF Format