Sept. 13, 2008
PRINCETON, N.J. - It was business as usual for the third-ranked Stanford men's water polo team Saturday, as the Cardinal posted victories of 13-4 and 12-2 over the U.S. Naval Academy and Princeton, respectively. The wins keep the Cardinal (3-0) unbeaten through the first three games of the 2008 season heading into the final day of its East Coast trip.
Janson Wigo recorded his second and third consecutive hat tricks Saturday, scoring three goals in each victory. Sage Wright totaled five goals on the day, with a four-goal effort in the day's opening win over Navy, while hat tricks were also turned in by Will Hindle-Katel against Navy, and Drac Wigo against Princeton.
Chris Jacobson scored three goals on the day, while additional goals were turned in by Andrew Drake, Ryan McCarthy, Alex Pulido and Jacob Smith.
On the defensive side of the tank, goalies Jimmie Sandman and Brian Pingree held down the fort with fine performances Saturday. Sandman, starting and playing the first three periods of each contest, made 11 saves in the opener before stopping eight shots in the nightcap against the Tigers. Pingree came on in relief in both games, making four total saves.
The Cardinal once again got off to a fast start that put the opposition in an early hole, scoring four unanswered goals in the first period against the Midshipmen. Stanford kept up the pressure with four more goals in the second period, building an 8-2 lead, and cruised to the victory from there.
Wright's four goals paced the Cardinal in the contest, with Hindle-Katel and Janson Wigo adding hat tricks. Sandman's 11 saves included a pair of stops on Navy penalty shots, preserving the offense's cushion on the scoreboard.
In the evening, Stanford was no less robust in routing the host Princeton Tigers. Despite a slow first period in which the Cardinal managed just one goal, Sandman kept the Tigers off the board by blocking an Eric Vreeland five-meter penalty. The offense then returned to its high-octane ways with nine unanswered goals that opened up a 10-0 lead heading into the final period.
Despite the Tigers spoiling the Cardinal's shutout bid with a goal with 3:48 remaining, the Cardinal would answer with two more goals of its own en route to the 12-2 victory
Navy - 0 2 2 0 = 4
Stanford - 4 4 3 2 = 13
Stanford Goal Scorers: Sa. Wright 4, Hindle-Katel 3, J. Wigo 3, Jacobson, Pulido, J. Smith
Navy Goal Scorers: Anderson, Baldwin, Bell, Murphy
Goalie Saves: Sandman 11, Pingree 3 (S)
Stanford - 1 4 5 2 = 12
Princeton - 0 0 0 2 = 2
Stanford Goal Scorers: D. Wigo 3, J. Wigo 3, Jacobson 2, Drake, McCarthy, Sa. Wright
Princeton Goal Scorers: Colgan, Wigley
Goalie Saves: Sandman 8, Pingree 1 (S)