March 7, 2013

STANFORD, Calif. - The 18th-ranked Stanford women's lacrosse team plays host to the University of Southern California and Temple this weekend, as it looks to rebound from a 15-8 mid-week loss to No. 11 Georgetown.

Reining Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Offensive Player of the Week, Rachel Ozer, leads a talented Stanford (2-2) offensive attack that has compiled 48 goals in four games. Ozer holds a team-high 18 points on 12 goals and six assists.

Junior Anna Kim (5-3) and sophomore Kyle Fraser (7-1) are tied for the second-most points with eight.

Stanford has been strong defensively, utilizing a swarming defensive effort that pressures teams through the midfield and in the Cardinal's defensive zone. Stanford holds advantages over opponents in ground balls (69-58), draw controls (59-46) and caused turnovers (45-33).

Junior Megan Lerner has been a major factor in the defensive effort, leading Stanford with 14 draw controls and picking up the second-most ground balls with 11. Junior goalkeeper Lyndsey Munoz has also been key to Stanford's shutdown play, averaging six saves per game and picking up a team-high 12 ground balls.

The Cardinal will open its weekend schedule against MPSF newcomer USC (4-3) on Friday, March 8, at 3 p.m. The Trojans are coming off a 12-7 victory at UC Davis. Freshman midfielder Amanda Johansen picked up six draw controls and had a game-high five goals for USC.

Stanford wraps up its weekend against Temple (4-0) on Sunday, March 10, at 1 p.m. The Owls defeated Lafayette, 15-12, in its most recent match. Senior Kellee Pace led Temple with four goals, followed by junior Jaymie Tabor with three, and senior Stephany Parcell and freshman Rachel Schwaab with two apiece.

It will be Stanford's first meeting against both USC and Temple in program history.

The games will be streamed live and live stats will be provided through GameTracker, both available via gostanford.com.

Both games will be played at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium. Admission is free.