STANFORD, Calif. -Third-seeded Stanford will open its 14th and final MPSF Tournament this week as it looks to claim its 10th conference title. The Cardinal will face the sixth-seeded Cal Golden Bears on Thursday at 12 p.m. PT at USC's McAlister Field.
Should the Cardinal advance past Cal it would face the second-seeded Colorado, which enters into the tournament with a 15-2 overall and 7-2 MPSF record. The Cardinal fell earlier this year to the Buffaloes 13-8 in Boulder in only its second loss in program history to CU.
History Repeats: The Cardinal possesses an incredible postseason history in conference action, going to the last 19 championship games...a stat which spans three conferences. It's history in the last 19 years (former conferences in parenthesis):
2016: USC 8, Stanford 5
2015: Stanford 16, USC 11
2014: Denver 14, Stanford 11
2013: Stanford 7, Denver 6
2012: Oregon 13, Stanford 10
2011: Stanford 12, Oregon 10
2010: Stanford 11, Denver 10 (2OT)
2009: Stanford 18, California 13
2008: Stanford 9, Denver 8
2007: Stanford 12, Denver 11
2006: Stanford 12, Denver 6
2005: Stanford 12, California 9
2004: California 11, Stanford 10
2003 (MPLL): Stanford 15, California 14
2002 (MPLL): Stanford 16, California 7
2001 (WWLL): Stanford 11, California 6
2000 (WWLL): Stanford 12, UC Davis 9
1999 (WWLL): Stanford 11, UC Davis 7
1998 (WWLL): Stanford 10, UC Davis 8
Quarterfinal Opponent:
The Cardinal enters Monday's game with a 31-7 all-time record against Cal with Amy Bokker leading the Cardinal to a perfect 13-0 record. Earlier this season Stanford topped Cal 15-12 with Kelsey Murray posting six goals and two assists in the win.
Semifinal Opponent:
Colorado: Stanford leads the all-time series, 6-2, after a 13-8 loss on the road this season. The 'Buffs would also be a rematch in Stanford's MPSF Semifinal game last year as well that the Card won 15-6. Should the Cardinal advance past Cal Thursday the semifinal meeting with CU would be the fourth consecutive MPSF semifinal meeting - with Stanford winning all four.
Potent Offense:
The Cardinal returned five of its strongest offensive threats last year in Kelsey Murray, Anna Salemo, Kelly Myers, Elizabeth Cusick and Dillon Schoen.
Stanford is ranked 14th in the NCAA in scoring offense with a 14.81 average. Leading the way is All-American Kelsey Murray with 51 goals.
Offense May Win Games, but Defense...
The Cardinal has taken pride in its defensive prowess in its program history, but this year it has a daunting task in replacing two All-Americans in Adrienne Anderson and Meg Lentz. The duo combined last year with senior Alexa Mullins sending three new faces onto the defensive line. Freshmen Kyra Pelton and Mikaela Watson have filled that hole with junior Cameron Park.
The Cardinal is 40th in the NCAA in scoring defense, though where Stanford really shines is in caused turnovers per game, where its ranked second in the MPSF and 19th in the NCAA with a 11.06 average.
Murray the Menace:
Redshirt junior All-American Kelsey Murray has amassed an incredible career in her years on The Farm. Last weekend, she etched her name in the Cardinal record books surpassing Megan Burker as the all-time leader in points with 214.
Overall, she's currently fourth in career goals for Stanford with 136. In addition to that, Murray has tallied a point for the Cardinal in every game she's played in since March 7, 2014 against Towson. That's 53 straight games of production!
The senior also has the assist record in her sights as she has 78 to place her second in Stanford history - 10 shy of the all-time record.
Treat Your Elders With Respect:
The Cardinal is well aware of the adage after the return of Anna Salemo - the oldest MPSF Rookie of the Year. Salemo returned to Stanford lacrosse after a four-year break, including coaching the Mountain View High School girl's varsity lacrosse team. In her first season back she finished ranked 3rd in game-winning goals, 7th in the MPSF in goals, 9th in points and 10th in goals per game on the team. Bottom line - the southpaw isn't one you should ever take your eye off of.
Special situations:
• When scoring first: 10-2
• When the opponent scores first: 0-3
• When leading at halftime: 7-0
• When trailing at halftime: 3-5
• When tied at halftime: 1-0
• When leading with 10 minutes left: 10-0
• When trailing with 10 minutes left: 0-5
• When tied with 10 minutes left: 0-0
• In overtime: 0-0
• Largest deficit overcome: 4 goals – three times – last against Harvard 8-4 in second half.
• Largest deficit overall: 5 goals - against Colorado
• Record when holding opponents to 10 or fewer goals: 7-1
• Record when scoring 10 or more goals: 10-2