Nov. 9, 2003
Stanford, Ca - The third-ranked Stanford men's water polo team battled back from a three-goal deficit to hand second-ranked California a 10-8 loss in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) game on Sunday at the Spieker Aquatics Complex.
A 4-0 run by the Cardinal in the third period proved too much for Cal. The Bears outscored the Cardinal, 3-1, in the first period on a pair of goals by Brian Kinsel and a goal by Attila Banhidy. Cal stretched its lead to 6-3 at the half on another goal by Kinsel and two goals by Will Quist.
Stanford then began its run in the third period with goals by Peter Varellas, Thomas Hopkins, Greg Crum and finally Matt Moser with three seconds in the quarter for a 7-6 lead - Stanford's first lead of the game. Stanford was bolstered by three saves by goalkeeper Chad Taylor in the third period.
Cal tied the game, 7-7, with 6:17 in the fourth quarter on a goal by Brian Bacharach. Stanford responded with a goal by Mike Derse that barely slid past by Bears goalie Tim Kates, and a goal by Crum with 3:16 left in the final period. Cal was able to get within a goal at 9-8 on a goal by Andrija Yasiljevic, off a ricochet from a four-meter penalty shot with 2:58 left. But Stanford's leading scorer, Tony Azevedo, sealed the Cardinal win with a long shot with a minute to go for the final 10-8 margin.
Stanford upped its season record to 16-3 overall and 5-1 in the MPSF. Cal falls to 17-5 overall and 4-3 in the conference.
Stanford and California will meet for a third time on Nov. 22 (10 a.m.) for the Big Splash at the Avery Aquatic Center on the Stanford campus.
Stanford (16-3, 5-1 MPSF)1243=10
California (17-5, 4-3 MPSF)3302=8
Stanford Scorers: Azevedo 2, Varellas 2, Crum 2, Derse 1, Garton 1, Hopkins 1, Moser 1
California Scorers: Kinsel 3, Quist 2, Bacharach 1, Banhidy 1, Vaslijevic 1
Goalie Saves: Taylor (S) 7; Kates (C) 9