Rare Home Loss To Cal

STANFORD, Calif. - No. 3 Stanford dropped an 11-6 decision to No. 5 California on Friday night in the regular season finale for both teams at Avery Aquatic Center.

Stanford (16-5, 4-2 MPSF) suffered a rare loss in the rivalry series, with California (15-5, 4-2 MPSF) winning for only the third time in the last 23 meetings dating back to 2016.

The loss was also the Cardinal's first at home since falling 10-8 to USC back on April 2, 2022, snapping a 17-match winning streak on The Farm.

The Golden Bears jumped out to a 4-1 lead after the first quarter and built an 8-3 edge by halftime.

Sophie Wallace led the Cardinal with a pair of goals, increasing her team-leading total to 48.

Stanford scored two of the three goals in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 9-5 following a goal from Eleanor Facey with 21 seconds left in the period.

Maya Avital finished with six saves.

Stanford's six-member senior class of Avital, Christina Hicks, Skyler Jones, Sam Sternfels, Celeste Wijnbelt and Talie Wilmans were honored in a postgame Senior Night ceremony. All six players are two-time NCAA champions (2022-23) and two-time MPSF champions (2022-23). Since its first season together in 2021, the senior class has compiled a 78-14 overall record and 22-8 MPSF record.

Next up for the Cardinal is the MPSF Championship, scheduled for April 26-28 in Bloomington, Indiana.

Stanford Goals: Sophie Wallace (2), Kamryn Barone (1), Eleanor Facey (1), Christina Hicks (1), Skyler Jones (1).