[Spiny_Norman]

This match was a war. Very physical with each team having one of their top players disqualified for 3 exclusions.

USC jumped to a quick 2-0 lead. Stanford broke through after 10 minutes of play, but never got closer than 2 goals through the first 3 periods. Every time Stanford scored, USC responded. Stanford did change the game a bit halfway through the 3rd period when keeper Eichelberger stopped a penalty shot which would have put USC up 6-2. Still, the deficit was 7-4 going into the 4th period. 

But Stanford seemed to make some adjustments on defense. They started double teaming the 2 meter player who had been drawing exclusions. Stanford scored on its first possession of the 4th period, then another a minute later, the first time all game the Cardinal scored without USC responding. Momentum Stanford. 

On the other end, Stanford was playing great defense. They stopped USC time and again. But they could not break through on offense until frosh Ryann Neushul (yes, another sister after Kiley and Jamie) scored to tie and another from Makenzie Fischer gave Stanford the lead with a minute to play!

But this is USC and no win is secure until the final horn. They drew an exclusion and scored on a power play with 38 seconds to play. Stanford then had to survive a turnover and defend one last possession to send the game to OT. Makenzie Fischer scored first off an incredible counter attack pass from GK Eichelberger and then the Cardinal held off every furious offensive attack by the Trojans to win. Stanford held USC to a single goal over the final 19 minutes.

Video highlights here - https://pac-12.com/videos/recap-makenzie...k-no-1-usc

A great victory over a team that had Stanford's number recently. But again these teams will likely see each other again this season. Now Stanford gets ready to host #3 UCLA next weekend.

[Spiny_Norman]

This match was a war. Very physical with each team having one of their top players disqualified for 3 exclusions.

USC jumped to a quick 2-0 lead. Stanford broke through after 10 minutes of play, but never got closer than 2 goals through the first 3 periods. Every time Stanford scored, USC responded. Stanford did change the game a bit halfway through the 3rd period when keeper Eichelberger stopped a penalty shot which would have put USC up 6-2. Still, the deficit was 7-4 going into the 4th period. 

But Stanford seemed to make some adjustments on defense. They started double teaming the 2 meter player who had been drawing exclusions. Stanford scored on its first possession of the 4th period, then another a minute later, the first time all game the Cardinal scored without USC responding. Momentum Stanford. 

On the other end, Stanford was playing great defense. They stopped USC time and again. But they could not break through on offense until frosh Ryann Neushul (yes, another sister after Kiley and Jamie) scored to tie and another from Makenzie Fischer gave Stanford the lead with a minute to play!

But this is USC and no win is secure until the final horn. They drew an exclusion and scored on a power play with 38 seconds to play. Stanford then had to survive a turnover and defend one last possession to send the game to OT. Makenzie Fischer scored first off an incredible counter attack pass from GK Eichelberger and then the Cardinal held off every furious offensive attack by the Trojans to win. Stanford held USC to a single goal over the final 19 minutes.

Video highlights here - https://pac-12.com/videos/recap-makenzie...k-no-1-usc

A great victory over a team that had Stanford's number recently. But again these teams will likely see each other again this season. Now Stanford gets ready to host #3 UCLA next weekend.