Sept. 22, 2007
STANFORD, Calif. - A seven-goal blitzkrieg in the first period paved the way for the No. 4 Stanford men's water polo team's 20-11 victory Saturday afternoon over the No. 15 Pacific Tigers at Avery Stadium. With the win, the Cardinal snap a two-game skid and improve to 4-2 on the season.
Drac Wigo led all Stanford scorers with five goals Saturday, including three in the first period. Three other Cardinal players notched hat tricks in the contest, as Will Hindle-Katel, Janson Wigo, and Sage Wright all netted three goals apiece. Goalkeeper Sandy Hohener, not to be outdone, put on a clinic in the cage, making 15 saves in three periods of action.
Stanford's seven-goal first period was highlighted by Drac Wigo's three goals, including the first two within the game's first minute and a half. Chris Jacobson and Wright were scored before Wigo added his third of the period at the 2:54 mark before Pacific finally got on the board with a Dragan Bakic score at the 1:35 mark. Goals from Janson Wigo and Hindle-Katel closed out the period for the Cardinal.
Hohener played a major role in helping build Stanford's huge advantage, as the senior made five saves in the opening period to frustrate the Pacific offense.
From there, the Cardinal had no problem keeping the Tigers in check. An 11-5 halftime advantage was expanded to a 17-7 lead after three periods thanks to third-period scores from Hindle-Katel, Jeffrey Schwimer, Ryan McCarthy, Janson Wigo, and Will Smith. Hohener, in his final period of play Saturday, was stellar in making seven saves.
Additional Stanford goals were scored by Andrew Drake and Alex Pulido on Saturday.
The Cardinal will remain at home next Saturday, Sept. 29, as it battles the third-ranked UCLA Bruins at 4:30 p.m. at Avery Stadium.
Pacific - 1 4 2 4 = 11
Stanford - 7 4 6 3 = 20
Pacific Goal Scorers: Bakic 3, Kaurloto 3, Mahoney 2, Milcovich, Skora, Yamamoto
Stanford Goal Scorers: D. Wigo 5, Hindle-Katel 3, J. Wigo 3, Sage Wright 3, Drake, Jacobson, McCarthy, Pulido, Schwimer, Smith
Saves: Domecus 10 (P); Hohener 15 (S), Pingree 1 (S)