Nov. 26, 2010
STANFORD, Calif. - Jeffrey Schwimer scored the eventual game-winner with 5:56 remaining as fourth-seeded Stanford (14-7) held on to defeat fifth-seeded UC Irvine (16-8) 8-7 to close out the first day of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships.
The Cardinal advance to Saturday's semifinal round, where it will face top-seeded California at 1:30 p.m. at Avery Aquatic Center.
Jacob Smith led Stanford with three goals while Schwimer and Paul Rudolph scored two goals apiece. Travis Noll added a goal in the contest.
Brian Pingree and the Cardinal defense recovered from a shaky start as Pingree made eight saves in the contest.
The Cardinal, which erased a three-goal first quarter deficit, put the clamps down on defense as well, allowing just three goals the rest of the way after falling behind 4-1. UC Irvine scored two goals of 6-on-5 opportunities to take the lead, the second of those scores coming with two seconds left in the frame.
Stanford used its own advantage to close to within 4-3 with 5:24 left in the half, on Noll' goal, before Smith's second goal of the contest made it 5-4 in the closing seconds of the half.
The Cardinal closed to within 5-4 at the break and then tied it at 6-6 midway through the third period on Schwimer's goal with 2:58 left.
Stanford completed the comeback in the third period, erasing the deficit by briefly taking a 7-6 lead with 35 seconds left on Smith's third goal of the contest. Both teams would go into the final period tied at 7-7 following Griffin Lerman's second goal of the contest with 18 seconds left that equalized for the Anteaters.
UC Irvine - 4 1 2 0 = 7
Stanford - 1 3 3 1 = 8
Stanford Goal Scorers: Smith 3, Rudolph 2, Schwimer 2, Noll
UC Irvine Goal Scorers: Johnson 2, Lerman 2, Baxter, Kruip, Wise
Goalie Saves: Pingree 8 (S); Johnson 6 (UCI)