March 22, 2013

STANFORD, Calif. - Second-ranked Stanford women's water polo returned from 13 days off due to final exams Friday night and dialed up an 18-5 win over Harvard at Avery Aquatic Center.

Maggie Steffens led the Cardinal (15-1) with four goals while Kaley Dodson, Kiley Neushul and Melissa Seidemann scored three apiece. Cory Dodson found the back of the cage twice and additional goals were scored by Ashley Grossman, Alexis Lee and Kaitlyn Lo.

All three Cardinal goalies saw action, with Gabby Stone playing the first and third periods, making a pair of saves. Kate Baldoni made a pair of saves during the second period and Emily Dorst stopped a shot in the fourth period.

Stanford travels to Tempe Saturday, where it will play three games at the ASU Invite. The Cardinal takes on MPSF foe and third-ranked Arizona State Sunday at 12 p.m. and closes the day at 3 p.m. against Colorado State. Stanford plays its final game in Tempe Monday morning at 10 a.m. against No. 19 Hartwick.

Steffens had her hat trick in the bag with 1:20 left in the opening period Friday. The freshman from Danville scored 36 seconds into the contest and followed up with goals at the 4:30 and 1:20 marks, with Seidemann and Grossman adding the Cardinal's second and fourth goals.

The burst fueled an 8-0 Cardinal run to start the game as Neushul, Kaley Dodson and Seidemann all scored with the first 1:59 of the second frame to build the margin. Harvard (13-8) would get on the board 5:38 before the break thanks to Aisha Price's goal.

Neushul, Seidemann and Dodson struck again to start the second half and Steffens added her fourth at the 4:55 mark to open up a 12-1 lead before Harvard pulled a pair back behind the arms of Price and Victoria Frager at the 4:37 and 3:13 marks.

Cory Dodson and Jelena Cyr would trade goals within three seconds of one another to end the period with the Cardinal ahead 14-4.

After Kaley Dodson scored her third goal of the game and was answered by Harvard's Shayna Price with 6:40 to play, Stanford would go on a 3-0 run to end the game.

Harvard - 0 1 3 1 = 5
Stanford - 5 3 6 4 = 18

Stanford Goal Scorers: Steffens 4, K. Dodson 3, Neushul 3, Seidemann 3, C. Dodson 2, Grossman, Lee, Lo
Harvard Goal Scorers: A. Price 2, Cyr, Frager, S. Price
Goalie Saves: Stone 2, Baldoni 2, Dorst 1 (S); Dukes 7