Sept. 23, 2006
Stockton, Ca - A stunning upset on Saturday as the fifth-ranked Stanford men's water polo team dropped a 11-10 overtime decision to seventh-ranked Pacific in a non-league game at the Chris Kjeldsen Pool.
With 17 seconds remaining in the second overtime period, Pacific senior Matt Mitchell scored his only goal of the game to give the Tigers a win over the Cardinal for the first time since October 7, 2000, an 8-7 decision at Stanford.
Stanford stormed out of the gates in the first period by scoring three straight goals, two coming from Will Hindle-Katel, to take a 3-0 lead. Pacific then got on the scoreboard as Duje Kaurloto found the back of the cage to pull the Tigers to within two. Following a Cardinal goal by Michael Bury, Kaurloto closed out the first period with a five-meter penalty goal to make the score 4-2.
Bury started off the second period with a goal to make the score 5-2 before the Tigers scored two unanswered goals. Stanford led at halftime, 5-4.
The Cardinal again came out firing in the third period, scoring two straight goals by J.J. Garton and Andrew Drake to start the period and pushing the advantage to three at 7-4. UOP's Clint McLaughlin then connected on a five-meter penalty goal to pull Pacific back to within two before Stanford found the back of the cage on the ensuing Cardinal possession to make the score 8-5 on a score by Drac Wigo. The Tigers then scored scored twice pair to make the score 8-7 Stanford heading into the final period.
Stanford gained the sprint to start the fourth period, but Pacific gained possession quickly as 38 seconds in Pacific connected on a goal by Dragan Bakic, his third goal of the game to tie the score at 8-8. Midway through the period Janson Wigo scored to give Stanford the advantage 9-8, but the Tigers were able to tie it right back (9-9) as Bakic scored his fourth of the game. Janson Wigo answered the call for the Cardinal two minutes later and gave the Cardinal a 10-9 advantage with 1:32 remaining.
However, with nine seconds remaining in regulation, the Tigers' Matt Turnbull scored on a 6-on-5 power play opportunity to tie the game.
The first overtime period saw each team attempt two shots, with neither finding the back of the cage. In the second three-minute extra session, after an exclusion was called on the Cardinal, the Tigers had a chance with 34 seconds left to take the lead. Following a time-out the Tigers setup Matt Mitchell for the eventual game-winner, which gave the Tigers an 11-10 lead with 17 seconds left on the clock. Stanford had a shot at the end blocked by UOP goalie Brian Domecus to give the Tigers the victory.
The Cardinal was led in scoring by Janson Wigo, Michael Bury and Will Hindle Katel who each had two goals. Sandy Hohener tallied 10 blocks in goal.
Stanford now is 5-3 while Pacific is 9-5.
The Cardinal travels to UCLA next Saturday (Sept. 30) at the Rose Bowl pool for a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) game.
ot
Stanford41320-0=10
Pacific 22330-1=11
Stanford Scorers: Bury 2, Hindel-Katel 2, J. Wigo 2, A. Drake 1, Garton 1, D. Wigo 1, Sage Wright 1
Pacific Scorers: Bakic 4, Kaurloto 4, McLaughlin 1, Mitchell 1, Turnbull 1
Goalie Saves: Hoehener (S) 10; Domecus (UOP) 14