LOS ANGELES – Despite Allie DaCar's 11 saves, a thrilling ending fell the way of No. 9 Colorado as Stanford lost 14-13 in the MPSF semifinals Friday. The loss marks the first time the Cardinal has not advanced to the MPSF championship game and snaps a 19 year streak of reaching a conference championship game.
Nine tie scores spelled the story of how hard-fought the match-up was with the Cardinal taking the lead four times in a back-and-forth tilt. Kelsey Murray added a hat trick, with two of her goals coming less than 10 seconds apart right at the end as the Cardinal tried to fight back from a three-goal deficit.
The first half was deadlocked in nearly every category as Stanford (12-6) and Colorado (16-2) traded the lead off four times. Maggie Nick and Daniella McMahon scored twice to lead the Cardinal attack and send the teams into the break tied 6-6.
The second half saw CU bring the pressure offensively, outshooting Stanford 36-26 though DaCar's work in the cage with eight saves kept the Cardinal in it. Stanford took a two-goal lead twice, but the 'Buffs kept fighting back, finally going on a four-goal tear to take the lead permanently with less than two minutes remaining to advance to its first MPSF championship game.
The Cardinal will need an at-large bid to advance to the NCAA Tournament with the selection show on Sunday, May 7 on NCAA.com.