Nov. 23, 2012
MPSF Championship Central
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Alex Bowen's sixth goal of the day, 26 seconds into the first sudden-death overtime period, ended a wild quarterfinal matchup at the MPSF Championship Friday afternoon, giving Stanford a 14-13 win over Long Beach State at McDonald's Swim Stadium in Los Angeles.
The Cardinal (16-5) advances to the semifinal round where it takes on host and No. 1 USC at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Along with the six goals from Bowen, Stanford also got production from BJ Churnside's four goals, two from Bret Bonanni and one apiece from Andrew LaForge and Forrest Watkins.
On the other end of the pool goalie Scott Platshon made 10 saves.
The contest was wild from the start as the teams combined for 15 first-half goals. Stanford opened up with five first-period scores and three more in the second to take a slim 8-7 lead into the halftime break.
That lead increased to 10-8 by the end of the third frame, leaving the Cardinal eight minutes from advancing. Long Beach State would have other ideas, however, breaking out for three goals and limiting Stanford to one in the final period to level things up at 11-all.
Both teams went scoreless in the first of the two three-minute overtime periods, and the drama picked up over the second session as the teams equaled one another with a pair of goals apiece.
This set up the three-minute sudden-death overtime, in which both teams sought the coveted golden goal to end things. That golden goal would go to the Cardinal just 26 seconds into the frame, as Bowen fired home to send Stanford into the semifinal round.
Long Beach State - 3 4 1 3 0-2 0 = 13
Stanford - 5 3 2 1 0-2 1 = 14
Stanford Goal Scorers - Bowen 6, Churnside 4, Bonanni 2, LaForge, Watkins
Long Beach State Goal Scorers - Kappos 4, White 3, McConnell 2, Mefford, Rascon, Schiefer, Taylor
Goalie Saves - Platshon 10 (S); Meszaros 9 (LBSU)