STANFORD, Calif. — No. 1 STANFORD and No. 3 COLORADO will meet for the 2021 Pac-12 Lacrosse Tournament Championship in a rematch of the inaugural title game from 2018. The Cardinal advanced after defeating No. 4 ARIZONA STATE, 18-11, in Thursday’s first semifinal, while the Buffaloes used a second-half rally and late defensive stop to edge No. 2 USC in the nightcap, 9-8. 

The day began with outstanding performances from Stanford’s all-conference midfielder Mikaela Watson and attacker Ali Baiocco, who each scored four times and keyed a Cardinal attack that peppered ASU with 49 total shots. The Stanford offense also saw strong showings from midfielder Ailish Kelly and attacker Katherine Gjertsen, who each recorded their third hat tricks of the season, as the Cardinal widened its lead late in the first half and never looked back. 

Stanford controlled time of possession, with midfielder Genesis Lucero securing 10 of the team’s 20 draw controls. Arizona State goalkeeper Berkeley Bonneau finished with a season-best 18 saves and collected eight ground balls, her seventh career game with at least 15 saves. Attacker Carley Adams led the Sun Devils with three goals and four assists, while fellow attacker Kerri Clayton chipped in a pair of goals and three assists. 

The nightcap was punctuated with a resilient defensive showing from Colorado, which held USC’s offense scoreless for more than 20 minutes and reclaimed the lead on attacker Chloe Willard’s goal midway through the second half. Attacker Sadie Grozier recorded the game’s lone hat trick, scoring her 100th career goal in the first half and another shortly after the break. 

Colorado outscored the Trojans 6-2 in the second half and maintained the lead for the final 10 minutes, executing a final defensive stop with less than a minute to play to seal the deal. All-Pac-12 first team goalkeeper Julia Lisella made 10 saves, while defender Eliza Cahill collected three ground balls. The Trojans had eight different players find the back of the net on 25 total shots. Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Madison Waters and attacker Ella Heaney led the way with a goal and an assist each. 

Coverage of the 2021 Pac-12 Women’s Lacrosse Tournament championship game begins on Saturday, May 8 on Pac-12 Networks and the Pac-12 Now App at 12:00 p.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. MT.