April 12, 1998

STOCKTON, Calif. - In a showdown between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country, top-ranked and two-time defending national champion UCLA edged second-ranked Stanford 6-4 today in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship game.

The Bruins opened the game strong, building leads of 4-2 and 6-3 by the half. Junior two-meter defender Nicole Glazer (Miami, FL/Ransom Everglades HS) brought the Cardinal to within 6-4 with a goal just 50 seconds into the third quarter, but that would mark the final score of the game as the Bruins held on for the victory. Sophomore driver Suze Gardner (Atherton, CA/Menlo School) led the Cardinal offense with two goals. The loss brought an end to Stanford's 12-game win streak and dropped the squad's overall record to 22-4.

Stanford head coach John Tanner, in his first year at the helm of the Cardinal program, was named MPSF Coach-of-the-Year for his accomplishments this season. During his inaugural campaign, Stanford has attained its highest ranking ever (currently No. 2 in the country) and improved upon its fourth-place finish at last year's MPSF Championships.

Stanford two-meter Ellen Estes (Novato, CA/Novato HS), who established a new school single-season scoring record in the first game of the tournament, brought home two awards. The sophomore was named the MPSF Player-of-the-Year - the first-ever Cardinal to receive the honor - and tournament Co-MVP along with UCLA's Coralie Simmons.

Estes, who currently leads the team in scoring with 76 goals, broke the school single-season scoring record with her three goals against Long Beach State in the tourney opener. She surpassed the former mark of 63 set by Gardner last season. Gardner, who tallied nine goals in the tournament, was named to the all-tournament team. Junior goalkeeper and team captain Heather Crary (Redwood City, CA/Menlo School) received honorable mention all-tournament honors.

      
Results:
            1   2   3   4    T
UCLA        4   2   0   0  - 6
Stanford    2   1   1   0  - 4

Individual Scoring:
UCLA: Golaboski 2, Tenenbaum 2, Simmons, Gall.  
Stanford: Gardner 2, Estes, Glazer.
Saves:  Stanford 8 (Crary 8), 
        UCLA 8 (Payne 8)

Coach-of-the-Year:    John Tanner (Stanford)
Player-of-the-Year:   Ellen Estes (Stanford)
Tournament Co-MVP's:  Ellen Estes (Stanford) and Coralie Simmons (UCLA)

All-Tournament Team                     All-Tournament Honorable Mention
Ellen Estes (Stanford)                  Karen Cook (California)
Coralie Simmons (UCLA)                  Colette Glinkowski (California)
Alisa von Hartizsch (California)        Erin Golaboski (UCLA)
Robin Beauregard (UCLA)                 Kristin Guerin (UCLA)
Catherine von Schwarz (UCLA)            Katie Hill (UC Santa Barbara)
Marie-Luc Arpin (Hawai`i)               Denise Parreira (Hawai`i)
Rachel Scott (San Diego State)          Maggie Phillips (Pacific)
Suze Gardner (Stanford)                 Molly Smith (Pacific)
Nicolle Payne (UCLA)                    Teri Mullins (San Diego State)
Bernice Orwig (USC)                     Jennifer Durley (USC)
                                        Selah Mapes (USC)
                                        Heather Crary (Stanford)