Stanford could have boasted about a 7-2 record against rival UCLA over the last two seasons going into the National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship showdown May 12 at Southern California. The Cardinal left with the bragging rights it really wanted: the national title.

In last year's first NCAA championship, Stanford saw its perfect record and four straight wins over the Bruins wiped away in a 5-4 title-game loss. Then, two weeks before the 2002 title showdown, UCLA beat the Cardinal for the first time in four tries this year for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship. But when it counted most, Stanford emerged with an 8-4 victory.

The Cardinal started the national championship game with a vengeance, including goals from Wendy Watkins and Ellen Estes in the opening two minutes of play. After the first period, Stanford already had built a commanding 3-0 lead.

"We had a great feeling from the beginning," Stanford head coach John Tanner said. "We came out and made plays. We dominated the game for the first quarter and half the next. We were anchored by Jackie (Frank), who was the key to the win."

In the third quarter, UCLA narrowed the score to 4-2 and had a chance to pull within one, but the shot failed and Stanford scored seconds later to put the game out of reach.

Frank, Stanford's goalkeeper who was named the most outstanding player of the tournament, tallied 12 saves and allowed just one goal in 10 UCLA six-on-five situations.

"We play great defense no matter who's in goal," Frank said. "Our defense is solid. They made five or six field blocks on five-on-sixes, so I didn't have to make a play."

Estes and Julie Gardner each scored two goals for the Cardinal, while Natalie Golda had three goals for UCLA.

Stanford advanced to the championship game with a 13-3 semifinal win over Michigan, while UCLA defeated Loyola Marymount, 11-2. Loyola Marymount rebounded to win the third-place game, 6-4.

Frank was joined on the all-tournament team by Estes and Brenda Villa. UCLA's Golda, Kelly Heuchan, Robin Beauregard and Amber Stachowski were honored along with Lucy Windes from Loyola Marymount.

Semifinals

Stanford scoring: Brenda Villa 4, Jeanine Jackson 2, Lauren Faust 2, Julie Gardner 2, Nicole Huszcz, Ellen Estes, Kate Pettit.

Michigan scoring: Jen Crisman, Julie Nisbet, Stephanie Rupp.

Saves: Stanford -- Jackie Frank 5; Michigan -- Betsey Armstrong 14.

UCLA scoring: Kelly Heuchan 3, Amber Stachowski 2, Ashley Stachowski 2, Natalie Golda, Jenny Lamb, Kristyn Pulver, Thalia Munro.

Loyola Marymount scoring: Julie Wald, Jaime Kroeze.

Saves: UCLA -- Jaime Hipp 7; Loyola Marymount -- Devon Courtney 7.

Third place

Loyola Marymount scoring: Lucy Windes 4, Teresa Guidi 2.

Michigan scoring: Jen Crisman 2, Casey Kerney, Mandi Hagedom.

Saves: Loyola Marymount -- Devon Courtney 8; Michigan -- Betsey Armstrong 7.

Championship

Stanford scoring: Ellen Estes 2, Julie Gardner 2, Brenda Villa, Jeanine Jackson, Kelty Luber, Wendy Watkins.

UCLA scoring: Natalie Golda 3, Kelly Heuchan.

Saves: Stanford -- Jackie Frank 12; UCLA -- Jaime Hipp 4.