July 31, 2009

STANFORD, Calif. - Seven members of the Stanford women's water polo team came together last weekend and helped lead Stanford Water Polo Club's 20-under squad to the USA Water Polo 20-Under National Championship crown. Junior (in 2010) Kim Krueger, sophomores Cassie Churnside, Monica Coughlan, Alyssa Lo, Pallavi Menon and Melissa Seidemann, and incoming freshman Vee Dunlevie were all part of the championship squad that defeated Santa Barbara Water Polo Club 13-10 in the final in Stockton.

Seidemann was named the tournament MVP as the Stanford squad went a perfect 7-0 over its tournament run. Over the seven games, Stanford outscored its opponents by a 101-50 margin.

The team earned its berth in the final after a thrilling semifinal victory over CHAWP. Despite holding a 6-2 halftime lead in the contest, Stanford found itself down 10-9 in the final minute of regulation, but a 6-on-5 goal from Seidemann was enough to send the game into overtime. There, trailing again, 11-10, after the first session, Stanford got two goals from Menon to capture the 12-11 win.

In the final, Stanford and Santa Barbara battled back-and-forth for much of the contest. Stanford held an early 4-2 lead, and the teams traded goals until Santa Barbara equalized at 9-9, which is how the score remained as regulation ended.

Stanford faced the fourth period and the overtimes without Seidemann, who was disqualified after picking up her third ejection in the third period, while Dunlevie got her third in the fourth period to leave Stanford without two scoring options.

Yet after each team scored once in the first overtime session, Stanford exploded for three goals in the second, as Lo scored twice and Menon kicked in another.