March 30, 2012

STANFORD, Calif. - Second-ranked Stanford opens up the home stretch of the regular season with a pair of MPSF contests at Avery Aquatic Center this weekend. The Cardinal starts its four-game homestand by taking on No. 4 Arizona State Saturday at 1 p.m. then hosts No. 8 San Diego State at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The Cardinal ends the regular season with five straight MPSF contests. Following this weekend's action, Stanford will host USC April 7 and California in the Big Splash April 14. Stanford ends the regular season at No. 1 UCLA April 21, then comes back home to host the MPSF Championship from April 27-29.

Sunday's contest is the second in a stretch of five straight MPSF contests to end the regular season. Following this weekend's action, Stanford will host USC April 7 and California in the Big Splash April 14, then travel to UCLA for the regular-season finale April 21. The Cardinal will then return home to host the MPSF Tournament from April 27-29.

Freshman Kiley Neushul leads the Cardinal with 38 goals heading into Saturday, while fellow rookie Ashley Grossman (29 goals) and the Lo Sisters, Alyssa (22) and Kaitlyn (20) are each at the 20-goal mark.

Kate Baldoni (10.09 saves per game, 4.31 GAA) anchors a Cardinal defense that allows just 4.56 goals per game.

Sunday's meeting will be the second of 2012 season between San Diego State and Stanford. The Cardinal defeated the Aztecs, 10-3, in the second round of the UCI Invitational back on Feb. 25.

Arizona State (19-4, 2-2 MPSF) heads into Avery for the first time this season with a 2-2 record in MPSF play. The Sun Devils, winners of six of their last eight, had a three-game winning streak snapped with a 9-7 home loss to USC last Saturday.

Senior attacker Alicia Brightwell paces the Sun Devils with 54 goals and leads the MPSF with an average of 2.70 goals per game. She is followed on the scoresheet by junior center Shannon Haas (41 goals) and Annabelle Carter (39 goals). In the cage, goalie Ianeta Hutchinson is averaging 8.58 goals per game.

For No. 8 San Diego State (17-7, 1-4 MPSF), Sunday's 1 p.m. contest at Avery Aquatic Center will serve as its MPSF finale. The Aztecs bring a 1-4 MPSF record into their trip to the Bay Area, first visiting San Jose State Saturday, March 31.

Senior utility Meaghan Poland leads the Aztecs with 50 goals and is fifth in the MPSF with a 2.08 goals per game average. Junior Amber Pezzolla is next with 43 goals and a 1.87 goals a game average heading into the weekend.

In the cage, goalie Kelly Campoli leads the MPSF with 12.00 saves per game and has a goals-against average of 6.99.