Box Score

STOCKTON, Calif. - With no time remaining in regulation during Friday's Farm vs. Farm matchup in the semifinal round at the NorPac Tournament, No. 4 Stanford - the tournament's top seed - broke a 1-1 tie by swatting the game-winning shot in midair to defeat UC Davis, 2-1, at Pacific Field Hockey Turf.

UC Davis is now 5-14 overall and will face California in its final game of the season, with third place on the line, Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. Stanford improves to 18-1 and will battle Liberty at 1:30 p.m. in the NorPac's championship match.

"I cannot tell you how proud I am for the way everyone played today. With all the scoring opportunities we had, against one of the best teams in the country, I could not ask for anything more," said UC Davis head coach Tiffany Huisman.

"I think that we have shown that this team can hold its own against anyone. Now we need to focus on another important match tomorrow against Cal."

Even though Stanford was able to reel off eight shots against the Aggies throughout the first half, none were of any danger as UC Davis goalkeeper Briana Sooy was able to redirect three shots to safety.

Stanford was also able to draw three penalty corners during the first 35 minutes of action, not one of those opportunities posed any danger to UC Davis.

However, in the second half, the Cardinal was able to snap a scoreless tie in the 42nd minute when Lauren Becker, one of a slew of people who were battling for a loose ball in front of the Aggies' cage, was able to knock in the first goal of the game.

That score remained untouched before UC Davis' persistence paid off with less than five minutes remaining in regulation.

A Stanford turnover in its 25-yard area soon became the last of the Aggies' two second-half penalty corners - an opportunity that UC Davis took full advantage of to even the score at one apiece.

Once Sophia Lisaius pushed the ball into play to Hannah Drawbridge, who positioned herself as the team's stopper at the top of the scoring arc, Lisaius slid in front of the Cardinal's cage and watched the play develop. Jamie Garcia took the first swing at Stanford goalkeeper Dulcie Davies - the No. 1 player at her position in the country entering Friday's semifinal match - one that was blocked and redirected back into play.

Lisaius' keen field vision allowed her to scoop up the rebound and successfully flick it over Davies. Forced to lay fully extended on her side to block Garcia's attempt, Davies was unable to make any sort of play on Lisaius' shot and could only watch the senior forward score her second tournament goal in as many days.

With tournament staff bracing for overtime, Stanford drew its final penalty corner in the final seconds of regulation. Once Elise Ogle swung the ball towards the top of the arc to her teammate Kelsey Harbin, who served as Stanford's stopper on the play, Harbin backed away to watch Jessica Chisholm take one last attempt at breaking a 1-1 deadlock.

Or so everyone at Pacific Field Hockey Turf thought.

Initially blocked by an Aggie stick, Chisholm's shot deflected into the air and hovered over a scrum of players from both teams. Of all the sticks that extended upwards in an attempt to knock the ball in an appropriate direction, it was Chisholm who was able to swat the ball in the air towards UC Davis' cage.

With the ball floating in the air, Sooy made the smart decision to step away from the cage in an effort to cut any potential scoring angles even further. But on that freak play, fate directed the ball into the back of the goal to help the Cardinal advance to Saturday's championship match.

Players from both teams were stunned; UC Davis made all the proper choices from the moment the ball was put into play, Stanford even waited a few moments to partake in a demure celebration due to the chaotic events that took place throughout the preceding seconds.

Outside of that bizarre blemish, Sooy, a defender-turned-goalkeeper due to the Aggies' injury situation played a brilliant game. The primary reason why UC Davis remained within striking distance throughout the entire afternoon due to the numerous highlight-reel plays made in each half, Sooy finished with four saves out of the 15 shots that traveled her way.

As cruel as it may be, that last-second (literally), unconventional play pushed UC Davis to Saturday's third-place matchup against Cal, who lost to Liberty by a 5-1 margin earlier in the day.

"Cal brings a very good game, tactically, whenever they face us. This is not going to be an easy game," said Huisman.

Links for live stats and a free video stream are available at ucdavisaggies.com.