Sept. 30, 2012
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - No. 3 Stanford men's water polo rebounded from yesterday evening's loss to post victories of 13-8 and 9-5 over Pepperdine and Pacific, respectively, to claim fifth place at the SoCal Tournament Sunday in Santa Barbara.
Stanford (6-2) returns home to Avery Aquatic Center where it will begin MPSF play Saturday, Oct. 6 at 9 a.m. against No. 1 USC. The contest is set to be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.
The Cardinal was led offensively by eight goals from sophomore utility Alex Bowen, who scored four times in each contest. Redshirt junior two-meter Forrest Watkins scored six times while freshman driver Bret Bonanni netted three goals.
Stanford's defense, anchored by goalie Scott Platshon, allowed just five goals in the fifth-place game against Pacific. The Cardinal held the Tigers scoreless in the opening frame while scoring twice to go up 2-0. Three more goals in the second period made it 5-1 and the Cardinal was able to continue on to the win. Platshon would end up with 10 saves in the contest.
In addition to Bowen's four goals, Bonanni scored twice while Watkins, Conner Cleary and Andrew LaForge each added a goal. Stanford's offense fired nearly at will on the Pacific goal, forcing Tiger goalie Alex Malkis to make 19 saves.
The morning contest featured the Cardinal rolling to an 8-3 halftime lead over Pepperdine behind four goals in each of the first two periods. Although the Waves scored three times in the opening period, Platshon and the Cardinal defense dig in and held Pepperdine scoreless in the pivotal second period.
Stanford's offensive surge continued in the second half, as the Cardinal went for five goals to maintain its advantage. Watkins led the Cardinal with five goals in the win along with Bowen's four. Bonanni, Cleary, Alex Avery and Nick Hoversten added goals.
Pepperdine - 3 0 2 3 = 8
Stanford - 4 4 2 3 = 13
Stanford Goal Scorers - Watkins 5, Bowen 4, Avery, Bonanni, Cleary, Hoversten
Pepperdine Goal Scorers - McIntyre 2, Sherburne 2, Cooper, DeTrane, Loomis, Perry
Goalie Saves - Platshon 8 (S); Valics 11 (P)
Pacific - 0 1 2 2 = 5
Stanford - 2 3 2 2 = 9
Stanford Goal Scorers - Bowen 4, Bonanni 2, Cleary, LaForge, Watkins
Pacific Goal Scorers - Obert 2, Erdelyi, Fleming, Follmer
Goalie Saves - Platshon 10 (S); Malkis 19 (P)