Fourth Pac-12 Tournament Title
LOS ANGELES - Stanford secured the final Pac-12 Tournament Championship on Saturday, taking down Colorado 11-8 in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The win was Stanford's fourth Pac-12 Tournament title and its 20th conference tournament title overall.
By claiming the Pac-12 championship, Stanford has secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament later this month.
Jay Browne was named the Pac-12 Tournament MVP after recording five points in the championship game. Stanford's captain dished four assists and added a goal in the win.
Jordyn Case, Ailish Kelly, and Lucy Pearson each joined Jay Browne on the Pac-12 All-Tournament team.
Stanford's rematch with Colorado was not the same 30-goal offensive outpouring as the first meeting this season. This time, only 19 goals were scored across the 60 minutes of action.
Aliya Polisky was second on the team behind Browne with three points, coming from two goals and an assist. She led Stanford with seven shots against the Buffs as the Cardinal outshot Colorado 32-22.
Ailish Kelly and Sarah Jaques tallied two points from two goals each while Jordyn Case and Peep Williams each chipped in two from a goal and an assist. Rylee Bouvier and Maddigan Miller scored one goal each to round out the scoring.
Stanford's defense stifled the Colorado attack from the very first whistle. The Cardinal caused eight of the Buffs' 13 turnovers on the day, led by Sophia Brindisi and Ailish Kelly with two each.
Brindisi also collected a game-high four ground balls.
Stanford's defense limited Colorado to only eight goals, the 11th time this season the Cardinal has allowed eight goals or less. Lucy Pearson made six saves in the game, earning a save percentage of 0.429.
The Buffs were limited to two goals in the first and second quarters and held to only a single score in the third.
Stanford now shifts its focus to further postseason action. The Cardinal will make its 12th appearance in the NCAA tournament next weekend.
Stanford will learn its first round opponent on Sunday during the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Selection show, broadcast on ESPN 2 at 6 p.m. PT.