Some interesting tidbits.
Stanford WWP played fewer games this year. Per the announcer, he invited good teams in for practices, giving game-like experience. I suspect that's an effort to reduce cost by avoiding travel.
Also, to remind people, WWP had TWO significant transfers in this year:
- Juliette Dhalluin, a French Olympian (left handed), who played at ASU in 2023 (but sat our for the Olympics last year)
- Sienna Green, an Australian Olympian, who played at UCLA in 2023 (but sat our for the Olympics last year)
In these cases, I suspect the transfer is less about NIL (I could be wrong!) or even a better chance at a NCAA championship, and more about playing with Olympic-level athletes and their coach. It would be interesting to think about why Stanford (vs UCLA or USC or even Cal). Stanford's coach, John Tanner, has had a very successful 28-year career.
It might be significant if Stanford is using its House money to strengthen some of Stanford's teams with best chances for national championships, rather than getting into bidding wars for other sports.
Overnght lets you watch previous games, so I got to watch the Stanford-UCLA semifinal match.
As noted above, Stanford's Dhalluin misses a penalty shot with 1:40 in regulation that would break the tie.
What I don't think anyone has mentioned here is that Stanford finished the 4th quarter with no goalie (7 on 6) with just 3 seconds on the clock. Stanford's shot was pulled down by the UCLA goalie who made a full-court shot with 1 second on the clock. It was an arcing shot that landed about 6' from the mouth of the goal and bobbed and floated toward the goal. Left alone, it would have floated across the goal (for a UCLA win) but Stanford's goalie chased it down from mid-pool to just deflect it. It looks to me that the front of the bali had crossed the goal line (but all the ball has to cross). Whew!
The tie in regulation results in two 3-minute periods. When tied after that, the teams play 3 minute periods where the first to score wins.
To start the first OT, Stanford's Flynn misses a 5-meter penalty shot. The rest of that period was defensive. It ended with UCLA having a 6 on 5 advantage, but Stanford wins the sprint to start the 2nd OT to nullify that advantage. About halfway through the 2nd OT period, Dhalluin hits a shot from about 6 meters, but UCLA comes right back to tie. With 0:50 left, Stanford's Minton has a wide open shot, but the UCLA goalie deflects it. UCLA has the ball for the rest of the time, with one shot ricocheting back to UCLA. Playing 7 on 6, UCLA tries a decent shot in the last second but it goes off the crossbar. On to Sudden Victory.
UCLA wins the sprint but a lob shot is pulled down. Stanford calls a timeout but then can't get a shot off. UCLA gets a 6 on 5 but their shot is blocked. Stanford then gets a 6 on 5 but their shot is blocked out of bounds (so Stanford gets the ball back, 6 on 6). Then the ball is passed inside to Ella Woodhead at the 2-meter line. She turns, resulting in a penalty call on her defender. Dhalluin, who missed earlier, puts the penalty shot in the top right, wins the game.
