Sports Briefs: San Anselmo’s Ella Woodhead adds to family’s water polo fame

Stanford University’s top-seeded women’s water polo team powered past No. 3 USC, 11-7, to claim the NCAA Championship on Sunday.

Juliette Dhalluin scored three goals to lead the Cardinal to its 10th title overall, and third in four seasons. Christine Carpenter was named MVP of the All-Tournament team, with nine saves in the championship game.

Redshirt sophomore Ella Woodhead of San Anselmo finished the season with 23 goals and eight assists in 24 games. Woodhead, who was selected to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation All-Freshman team in 2023, did not compete for Stanford last season as she trained with the U.S. National Team ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Woodhead’s brothers Dylan and Quinn, both competed for the U.S. National men’s water polo team in France. Dylan and Quinn Woodhead both competed for Stanford, following in the path laid out by mother Laura Woodhead, a former swimmer at Stanford. Their father, Jeff, was a rower at rival Cal.

Golf

Tiburon’s JP Odland finished 4-under 68 during a U.S. Open local qualifier at The Club at Ruby Hill in Pleasanton on May 6. San Rafael’s Alex Franklin finished at even-par 71 during a local qualifier at the Preserve Golf Course in Carmel on May 7, but missed the cut for a shot at the U.S. Open in a tiebreaker.

Baseball

The San Rafael Pacifics open the2025 Pecos League season at Albert Park against the Monterey Amberjacks on Thursday, May 22. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. For a full schedule of games and for more information, visit www.pacificsbaseball.com