Nov. 3, 2007
STANFORD, Calif. - Defense played the main role Saturday at Avery Stadium as the fourth-ranked Stanford men's water polo team won its third game in a row, defeating No. 8 UC Davis 6-4.
Andrew Drake and Sage Wright each scored twice to lead the Cardinal (12-6, 2-3 MPSF), but the defense stole the show as it allowed a season-low four goals and allowed Stanford to build a cushion in the third period. Sandy Hohener made seven saves in the cage to highlight the effort.
The game-opening stalemate was finally broken at the 1:42 mark of the first period, as Drake scored an extra-man goal, then followed up with his second goal with 16 seconds left in the period.
UC Davis came back, though, equalizing thanks to goals from Nick Arrigo at the 5:16 mark and Matt MacLachlan at 3:59. But Stanford would recover, getting an extra-man goal from Drac Wigo at 3:29 before Sage Wright's score with 1:44 left helped the Cardinal to a 4-2 advantage at the break.
The defense stepped up again in the third period, holding the Aggies scoreless while the offense got goals from Jeffrey Schwimer and Wright to build a 6-2 cushion.
Goals from Adam Bennett and Grant Muenter halved the lead late in the fourth, but the Cardinal defense held firm to pick up the win.
UC Davis - 0 2 0 2 = 4
Stanford - 2 2 2 0 = 6
Stanford Goal Scorers: Drake 2, Sage Wright 2, Schwimer, D. Wigo
UC Davis Goal Scorers: Arrigo, Bennett, MacLachlan, Muenter
Goalie Saves: Hohener 7 (S); McGee 13 (UCD)