Here are my predictions, often wrong, for this year’s MPSF women’s tournament:
Stanford
UCLA
USC
Cal
It looks like the MPSF used scoring differential to break the 3-way tie for 1st place in the regular season.
I predict Stanford, UCLA, and USC will be selected for the NCAA tournament regardless of what happens in the MPSF tournament. Cal will receive an automatic bid if it wins the MPSF tournament. Cal will receive an at-large bid if Hawaii wins the Big West Conference. If Hawaii doesn’t win the Big West Conference, Cal will have a chance to receive the 3rd at-large bid if it finishes 2nd or 3rd in the MPSF tournament. However, Cal’s one-goal loss to Hawaii early in the season may be too much for Cal to overcome.
I do think that Cal has the potential to win their game, but they will have to catch UCLA on an off day, which they have definitely had earlier this year.
The USC/Stanford should be a great. I think Stanford will get revenge, but they will have to figure out a way to neutralize USC’s centers.
I agree 100% with your Stanford/C prediction. Stanford looks very strong and SC has good pieces but no the whole. Adam is good at peaking in the end lately, off days for UCLA at the end? I will take those odds, they had some grit vs. SC this weekend.
After the UCLA vs SC game on Saturday, I am putting my money on a UCLA vs Stanford final with UCLA taking home the win. UCLA was the most impressive I’ve seen all season. Lauren Steele seems to have found her footing against the Olympians and Anna Pearson was perfection. Adam is a water polo genius.
My money is still on Stanford and their five Olympians, but, I think any of the top three teams could win it all.
From what I could tell, UCLA definitley played a good game against UCLA and Steele looked strong in goal, but, on the other hand, USC’s defense looked horrible, so I do not know how much to credit UCLA’s offense.
It is definitley playing out to be a much more exciting ending to the season than last year.
USC dominated the first quarter of their game against UCLA. They were running an effective offense and looked strong - and were up 4-1 at one point. UCLA picked up its defense and became more physical, especially in the hole. They effectively neutralized USC. It was a very physical game and USC didn’t get some calls that might have given them some momentum. Their outside shooting became weaker as the game went on, except for one or two shots that were high corner rockets late in the game. USC’s defense broke down as well. Goalie change in the 2nd half highlighted a little of that. Lauren Steele was dynamic and made some excellent blocks including 2 5 meters.
UCLA is finishing strong and it could be theirs to lose. But never count out JT and the experienced veterans of Stanford. I’ve seen USC play brilliantly, so if Casey Moon can get his team to mentally lock-in with a sprinkle of zen, we could see an upset or two from the Trojans. I look forward to some exciting games!
Last time Stanford and USC met, USC needed a monster game from Kearns to win. JT won’t let that happen again – Stanford shot blocking will win the day. Stanford by 2 (but Ausmus magic is an x factor). UCLA over Cal. In the final, Stanford over UCLA by 3 with Stanford’s movement breaking down UCLA’s zone.
I give the slight edge to Stanford in the MPSF tournament because of Roemer, Neushul, Flynn, and Dhalluin, but I won’t be surprised if UCLA or USC wins. Almost no one remembers who wins the MPSF tournaments. The grand prize is the NCAA tournament. Stanford, UCLA, and USC want to win the MPSF tournament because the winner will play Cal or Hawaii in the NCAA semifinals, not Stanford, UCLA, or USC. Cal has to win the MPSF tournament to ensure it receives a bid for the NCAA tournament. Therefore, Coralie Simmons won’t hold anything back in the MPSF tournament. I doubt that John Tanner and Adam Wright will show their full hand because their goal is to win the NCAA tournament. The jury is still out on Casey Moon as a head coach but I don’t think he will show his full hand, either.
UCLA 15, Cal 14 in regulation. If the stats shown on 6-8 Sports are correct, Cal took 40 shots (1.25 per minute). That doesn’t happen very often against an Adam Wright-coached team.
Stanford 11, USC 7. If the stats shown on 6-8 Sports are correct, Stanford held USC centers Tilly Kearns and Alma Yaacobi scoreless. They did draw 9 exclusions between them.
ASU 19, Indiana 11. ASU plays San Jose State in the 5th place game tomorrow.
The two Finals games today were both exceptional. One of the best days of water polo that I can remember seeing in person.
Cal hung on to beat USC 13-12 for 3rd place. They scored 12 goals in the first half, but could only muster 1 in the second.
Stanford beat UCLA 11-9 for 1st place. Stanford was up for most of their game, but UCLA clawed their way back to force overtime. As usual, Neushul was the best player in the pool today and scored the winning goal for them in OT.
My money is still on UCLA vs Stanford for a UCLA Repeat. UCLA is closing the gap with Stanford and I predict they will in the NCAA Championship game but probably by only a couple goals. UCLA is peaking, BUT SO IS Cal, those were such close and beautifully executed games against UCLA and USC. While watching the game against Cal, I thought maybe UCLA beating USC last weekend was a fluke. But no, Coralee is doing exactly what she should be doing and has her team exactly where they should be and hopefully the NCAA tournament will be a four dog race, maybe even a five dog race if Hawaii continues on their trajectory. While this season started out slowly it is shaping up to be one of the best seasons in years. Great polo yesterday! So fun to watch!