Oct. 30, 2008
DAVIS, Calif. - The second-ranked Stanford men's water polo team steamrolled its way past the first of three games this weekend with a 12-4 victory over No. 11 UC Davis Thursday night. Andrew Drake paced eight Cardinal goal scorers with three in the contest, while the defense turned in a solid effort once again.
Along with Drake's three goals, Janson Wigo and Sage Wright each added a pair. Single goals were scored by Will Hindle-Katel, Alex Pulido, Jeffrey Schwimer, Peter Sefton, and Jacob Smith.
On the other side of the tank, goalkeeper Jimmie Sandman made five saves over the first three periods while Brian Pingree made two saves to blank the Aggies over the final eight minutes.
Stanford's offense found the net consistently throughout the contest, notching three goals in the opening period. But UC Davis hung around, putting up a pair of scores over the first eight minutes to stay within striking range. Thanks to a mid-tank steal by Smith and the ensuing counterattack goal with 10 seconds left in the opening period, Stanford held a slim 3-2 lead.
The second and third periods would follow a script that the Cardinal defense has been polishing every week. While the offense kept up the scoring, with three more goals in the second period and four more in the third, the defense tightened up and limited the Aggies to just one goal in each of the next two periods.
In that second period, the Cardinal went on to score the first three goals to take a 6-2 lead and put the Aggies into a hole from which they could not climb out.
The defense would cap its performance by not allowing an Aggie goal in the fourth period, stifling five 6-on-5 situations in the frame.
Stanford's offense was a force for just about the entire contest, not only netting 12 goals but peppering Aggie goalkeeper Kevin Peat with shot after shot, forcing him to make 14 saves.
The Cardinal (18-2, 3-0 MPSF) return home for the second game of the weekend, hosting the ninth-ranked UC Irvine Anteaters at Avery Aquatic Center Saturday at 11 a.m.
Stanford - 3 3 4 2 = 12
UC Davis - 2 1 1 0 = 4
Stanford Goal Scorers: Drake 3, J. Wigo 2, Sa. Wright 2, Hindle-Katel, Pulido, Schwimer, Sefton, J. Smith
UC Davis Goal Scorers: Bennett, Lindsay, Lyle, Salit
Goalie Saves: Sandman 5, Pingree 2 (S); Peat 14 (UCD)