[BigEasyCard]

At end of the second period of their quarterfinal match, Stanford leads Pacific 8-5.

Scoreboard here: http://www.thefosh.net/livestats.php?gameid=3024

Live stream here: http://www.ncaa.com/championship/livepla...2017/05/12

Cal and UCLA have already advanced today.  USC plays Michigan in last match of the day.

Geaux Cardinal!

[BigEasyCard]

At end of the second period of their quarterfinal match, Stanford leads Pacific 8-5.

Scoreboard here: http://www.thefosh.net/livestats.php?gameid=3024

Live stream here: http://www.ncaa.com/championship/livepla...2017/05/12

Cal and UCLA have already advanced today.  USC plays Michigan in last match of the day.

Geaux Cardinal!

[Farm93]

1) I would love to see the UCB'ers win on Saturday.  That would be helpful.
2) I really struggle to understand why this tournament is in the Midwest so often.  It looks like only parents are in the stands for these quarterfinal games.  Why is it OK that Lacrosse finals are played in a very tight I-95 corridor every year, but Water Polo needs to be hosted in an indoor venue thousands of miles away from the campuses of the semi-finalists???  Errrr...

[Farm93]

1) I would love to see the UCB'ers win on Saturday.  That would be helpful.
2) I really struggle to understand why this tournament is in the Midwest so often.  It looks like only parents are in the stands for these quarterfinal games.  Why is it OK that Lacrosse finals are played in a very tight I-95 corridor every year, but Water Polo needs to be hosted in an indoor venue thousands of miles away from the campuses of the semi-finalists???  Errrr...

[BigEasyCard]

Cardinal win 13 to 6 and move on to face winner of USC/Michigan tomorrow at 2 PM Pacific time.

Geaux Cardinal!

[BigEasyCard]

Cardinal win 13 to 6 and move on to face winner of USC/Michigan tomorrow at 2 PM Pacific time.

Geaux Cardinal!

[BobK]

This was at Stanford 2? Years ago.  I was there should remember as we won. 

USC next today

[BobK]

This was at Stanford 2? Years ago.  I was there should remember as we won. 

USC next today

[M T]

We win 13-6.  I only realized it was on and caught most of the last quarter.  Pacific was employing three people in the goal during that time (one goal keeper, two field players).  Interesting strategy to use against a more capable team.  I guess Stanford had trouble with it earlier, hence a relatively low score.  During the time I watched, Stanford scored two goals and almost got a couple of rebounds, while Pacific didn't get any kind of offense going.

Michigan-USC is the next game (live at 2:15PM Friday).
  http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule/2017/05/12


As for playing the championships in the midwest, I think you may be thinking of swimming.  The west coast has hosted its fair share of championships.
For WWP, you can see where it has been played at
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Women...ampionship
For MWP,
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Men%2...ampionship

[M T]

We win 13-6.  I only realized it was on and caught most of the last quarter.  Pacific was employing three people in the goal during that time (one goal keeper, two field players).  Interesting strategy to use against a more capable team.  I guess Stanford had trouble with it earlier, hence a relatively low score.  During the time I watched, Stanford scored two goals and almost got a couple of rebounds, while Pacific didn't get any kind of offense going.

Michigan-USC is the next game (live at 2:15PM Friday).
  http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule/2017/05/12


As for playing the championships in the midwest, I think you may be thinking of swimming.  The west coast has hosted its fair share of championships.
For WWP, you can see where it has been played at
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Women...ampionship
For MWP,
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Men%2...ampionship

[Farm93]

Yes, I have attended multiple Water Polo finals, so realize they are on the West Coast from time to time.

But why have any of these trips to Midwest?  The title game with Stanford and UCB in that indoor Ann Arbor building had a similar feel.  This event should be held at an outdoor pool complex in a location with solid mid-May weather.

The West Coast dominated sports seem to need to venture to the East Coast for the good of the sport, but the East Coast sports (Lacrosse, Field Hockey, etc.) don't seem to have that same mandate.  Just annoying.

When the event is held in the Pac-12 states the attendance is much stronger.

[Farm93]

Yes, I have attended multiple Water Polo finals, so realize they are on the West Coast from time to time.

But why have any of these trips to Midwest?  The title game with Stanford and UCB in that indoor Ann Arbor building had a similar feel.  This event should be held at an outdoor pool complex in a location with solid mid-May weather.

The West Coast dominated sports seem to need to venture to the East Coast for the good of the sport, but the East Coast sports (Lacrosse, Field Hockey, etc.) don't seem to have that same mandate.  Just annoying.

When the event is held in the Pac-12 states the attendance is much stronger.

[Viking_Guy]

Have to say that in watching the game today, I'm in firm agreement with some of Dante Dettamanti's arguments for rule changes - https://www.waterpology.com/its-time-for-change/

UoP basically played a tight defensive zone, with two field players permanently guarding the posts and the other four grouped inside 4 meters around Stanford's 2-meter player.  Practically every Stanford shot had to be taken through a thicket of arms, there was no possibility of a drive outside of transition, and the 2-meter player couldn't be fed effectively, and if she was, was immediately fouled.  So the game devolved into 5 Stanford players on the perimeter, only two or three involved in the play, looking at 6 defenders plus a goalie all packed into the 4 meters in front of the goal mouth.  Only one or two defenders and two or three attackers were moving.

Just not fun to watch.

VG

[Viking_Guy]

Have to say that in watching the game today, I'm in firm agreement with some of Dante Dettamanti's arguments for rule changes - https://www.waterpology.com/its-time-for-change/

UoP basically played a tight defensive zone, with two field players permanently guarding the posts and the other four grouped inside 4 meters around Stanford's 2-meter player.  Practically every Stanford shot had to be taken through a thicket of arms, there was no possibility of a drive outside of transition, and the 2-meter player couldn't be fed effectively, and if she was, was immediately fouled.  So the game devolved into 5 Stanford players on the perimeter, only two or three involved in the play, looking at 6 defenders plus a goalie all packed into the 4 meters in front of the goal mouth.  Only one or two defenders and two or three attackers were moving.

Just not fun to watch.

VG

[BigEasyCard]

...
UoP basically played a tight defensive zone, with two field players permanently guarding the posts and the other four grouped inside 4 meters around Stanford's 2-meter player.  Practically every Stanford shot had to be taken through a thicket of arms, there was no possibility of a drive outside of transition, and the 2-meter player couldn't be fed effectively, and if she was, was immediately fouled. 
...
Just not fun to watch.

VG

VG, I generally agree with your assessment.  But the one goal by Dani Jacovich in the third period where she took the feed from Maggie Steffens and shot in one motion was a thing of beauty.

So now on to the semifinals against USC.

Geaux Cardinal!

[BigEasyCard]

...
UoP basically played a tight defensive zone, with two field players permanently guarding the posts and the other four grouped inside 4 meters around Stanford's 2-meter player.  Practically every Stanford shot had to be taken through a thicket of arms, there was no possibility of a drive outside of transition, and the 2-meter player couldn't be fed effectively, and if she was, was immediately fouled. 
...
Just not fun to watch.

VG

VG, I generally agree with your assessment.  But the one goal by Dani Jacovich in the third period where she took the feed from Maggie Steffens and shot in one motion was a thing of beauty.

So now on to the semifinals against USC.

Geaux Cardinal!

[BostonCard]

Well, we can now say that a Pac-12 team will win the 2017 women's water polo national championship, since the four semifinalists are Stanford, Cal, UCLA, and USC.

BC

[BostonCard]

Well, we can now say that a Pac-12 team will win the 2017 women's water polo national championship, since the four semifinalists are Stanford, Cal, UCLA, and USC.

BC

[Viking_Guy]

BEC--

Yep, that was one exception, when the middle two players in the zone drifted a bit too high away from Jacovich and she converted the quick pass.  But it was almost the exception that proves the rule - the Tigers' defense never came that far out again.  At points, they were inside three meters, let alone four.  My favorite goal was the last one (I think?), where Neushul wound up and hammered the ball from about 5 meters between the goalie and the left-post defender.

And one troubling thing - Stanford didn't win a single sprint.  I noticed the same thing in the $C and UCLA matches in the Pac-12 tourney; those extra possessions add up.

VG

[Viking_Guy]

BEC--

Yep, that was one exception, when the middle two players in the zone drifted a bit too high away from Jacovich and she converted the quick pass.  But it was almost the exception that proves the rule - the Tigers' defense never came that far out again.  At points, they were inside three meters, let alone four.  My favorite goal was the last one (I think?), where Neushul wound up and hammered the ball from about 5 meters between the goalie and the left-post defender.

And one troubling thing - Stanford didn't win a single sprint.  I noticed the same thing in the $C and UCLA matches in the Pac-12 tourney; those extra possessions add up.

VG

[oldalum]

Stanford didn't win a single sprint. 

I've never understood why possession doesn't just alternate after the first sprint. e.g., basketball
Fortunately I was a slow sprinter so I never had to do it, but I felt sorry for the guys who did!

[oldalum]

Stanford didn't win a single sprint. 

I've never understood why possession doesn't just alternate after the first sprint. e.g., basketball
Fortunately I was a slow sprinter so I never had to do it, but I felt sorry for the guys who did!

[TrumpCard]

Stanford and UCLA in the finals. A chance for Stanford to tie UCLA for most NCAA team championships.

[TrumpCard]

Stanford and UCLA in the finals. A chance for Stanford to tie UCLA for most NCAA team championships.

[M T]

A tight game the whole way, Stanford wins the second semifinal 11-10 over USC in the WWP national championships.
They face UCLA who beat CAL by 3.

[M T]

A tight game the whole way, Stanford wins the second semifinal 11-10 over USC in the WWP national championships.
They face UCLA who beat CAL by 3.

[terry]

Total NCAA team championships

113  UCLA
112  Stanford
104  U-S-C
  51  Oklahoma St.
  49  Penn St.

This is a big opportunity for Stanford!

[terry]

Total NCAA team championships

113  UCLA
112  Stanford
104  U-S-C
  51  Oklahoma St.
  49  Penn St.

This is a big opportunity for Stanford!

[BigEasyCard]

Here is an article about today's match being Stanford WWP's eighth consecutive final:

http://www.gostanford.com/news/2017/5/13...final.aspx

If you scroll down there's a video about honorary co-captions Andrew Luck and Nicole Pechanec:

http://www.gostanford.com/news/2017/5/13...final.aspx

I was especially touched by the mutual admiration and warmth between the co-captains and the team.

Geaux Cardinal!

[BigEasyCard]

Here is an article about today's match being Stanford WWP's eighth consecutive final:

http://www.gostanford.com/news/2017/5/13...final.aspx

If you scroll down there's a video about honorary co-captions Andrew Luck and Nicole Pechanec:

http://www.gostanford.com/news/2017/5/13...final.aspx

I was especially touched by the mutual admiration and warmth between the co-captains and the team.

Geaux Cardinal!

[Spiny_Norman]

The championship match starts at 12 pm pacific and can be watched online at http://www.ncaa.com/championship/livepla...Id=2489450

Live stats at http://www.thefosh.net/livestats.php?gameid=3028

[Spiny_Norman]

The championship match starts at 12 pm pacific and can be watched online at http://www.ncaa.com/championship/livepla...Id=2489450

Live stats at http://www.thefosh.net/livestats.php?gameid=3028

[M T]

A last second goal by Stanford was disallowed, but I don't know why.  The ball clearly had fully passed the goal line.

Stanford played well.  Three good shots from in close were blocked by the UCLA goalie.  UCLA's lone goal was on a long shot (7m).    Refs letting them play.  UCLA guarding Stanford close during transition .

[M T]

A last second goal by Stanford was disallowed, but I don't know why.  The ball clearly had fully passed the goal line.

Stanford played well.  Three good shots from in close were blocked by the UCLA goalie.  UCLA's lone goal was on a long shot (7m).    Refs letting them play.  UCLA guarding Stanford close during transition .

[M T]

Stanford playing very well.  UCLA's goal was on a power play where the ball was almost stopped by the goalie but it slipped under arm and about 6 inches into the cage.

UCLA tried more motion at the beginning of the quarter, but Stanford's D handled it well.  Few majors called, so no one is in trouble for fouls.  I expect UCLA to get more physical to try to catch up.  The refs have been not calling much, so it may work.
But Stanford has generally played well.

[M T]

Stanford playing very well.  UCLA's goal was on a power play where the ball was almost stopped by the goalie but it slipped under arm and about 6 inches into the cage.

UCLA tried more motion at the beginning of the quarter, but Stanford's D handled it well.  Few majors called, so no one is in trouble for fouls.  I expect UCLA to get more physical to try to catch up.  The refs have been not calling much, so it may work.
But Stanford has generally played well.

[winflop]

5-2 at halftime. Maggie looks almost unstoppable and the defense has been tremendous UCLA is getting very few quality shots.

Keep it up ladies!!

[winflop]

5-2 at halftime. Maggie looks almost unstoppable and the defense has been tremendous UCLA is getting very few quality shots.

Keep it up ladies!!

[M T]

We did have a 6-3 lead for a bit.  Not as good a quarter.  My sense is that more majors were called on Stanford. We missed two separate shots from 2 feet (one blocked by a good play by goalie, one off the bar over goalie).

1 Stanford and 2 UCLA players have 2 exclusions.

[M T]

We did have a 6-3 lead for a bit.  Not as good a quarter.  My sense is that more majors were called on Stanford. We missed two separate shots from 2 feet (one blocked by a good play by goalie, one off the bar over goalie).

1 Stanford and 2 UCLA players have 2 exclusions.