Nov. 1, 2007
STANFORD, Calif. - The fourth-ranked Stanford men's water polo team got its three-game weekend off to the right start Thursday night, downing the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs by a score of 22-5 at Avery Stadium. Three Cardinal players posted hat tricks as the Cardinal improved to 11-6 on the season.
Will Hindle-Katel scored four goals to lead the Stanford effort, while Cody Wiesen and Janson Wigo scored three goals apiece. Andrew Drake, Ryan Fortune, and Ryan McCarthy all scored a pair of goals, as well. Brian Pingree made seven saves in net for the Cardinal as regular starter Sandy Hohener got the night off.
Grant Shilbin posted a hat trick to lead UC Santa Cruz.
The Cardinal wasted no time getting on the board, as Hindle-Katel put up a pair of scores in the opening 1:12 of the contest. Janson Wigo scored at the 4:38 mark to make it 3-0 Stanford, but Santa Cruz rallied, getting an extra attacker goal from Brian Fishel at 2:55 and a goal from Justin Garver 53 seconds later to cut the lead to 3-2.
At this point, Stanford re-asserted its presence, scoring the next three goals while taking a 5-3 lead after a period of play. The Cardinal then used a 7-0 second period as a springboard to the win as it outscored the Banana Slugs 17-2 the rest of the way.
Stanford also got individual goals from Michael Bury, Chris Jacobsen, Peter Finlayson, Will Smith, Sage Wright, and Steven Wright.
The Cardinal return to action at Avery Stadium Saturday afternoon for a 1 p.m. contest against No. 8 UC Davis, before hitting the road for an MPSF game in Stockton against No. 13 Pacific.
UC Santa Cruz - 3 0 1 1 = 5
Stanford - 5 7 4 6 = 22
Stanford Goal Scorers: Hindle-Katel 4, Wiesen 3, J. Wigo 3, Drake 2, Fortune 2, McCarthy 2, Bury, Jacobsen, Finlayson, Smith, Sa. Wright, St. Wright
UC Santa Cruz Goal Scorers: Shilbin 3, Fishel, Garver
Goalie Saves: Pingree 7 (S); Green 7 (UCSC)