Nov. 9, 2012
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Third-ranked Stanford men's water polo had its six-game winning streak snapped Friday night, dropping a 9-5 decision to No. 2 UCLA in Los Angeles.
Nick Hoversten led the Cardinal with two goals as Stanford fell to 14-5 overall and 4-3 in MPSF play. Bret Bonanni, Alex Bowen and BJ Churnside each added a goal. On defense, goalie Scott Platshon made four saves.
UCLA's Lucas Reynolds opened the scoring at the 5:52 mark of the first period before Churnside equalized just 15 seconds later. Stanford would go up 2-1 at the 4:31 mark as Bonanni scored on the 6-on-5.
Stanford's lead would be short-lived, however. Josh Samuels would score on UCLA's own power play just 25 seconds later, a goal that would open a run of three straight goals for the Bruins, all coming with the man-advantage, through the 1:27 mark of the second frame.
Bowen's 6-on-5 goal would pull the Cardinal to within a goal just before halftime, giving the Cardinal some momentum into the break. Yet it would be short-lived, as goals from UCLA's Daniel Lenhart and Samuels extended the Bruin lead to three at 6-3 within the first 1:39 of the second half.
At this point the Cardinal fought its way back into range as Hoversten netted his goals at the 3:56 and 1:09 marks, but that would be it for the Cardinal, as UCLA scored the game's final three goals, getting the clincher on the man-advantage with 2:56 remaining.
The Cardinal returns home to close the regular season with Senior Day next Friday against Pacific. Opening sprint is set for 5 p.m.
Stanford - 2 1 2 0 = 5
UCLA - 2 2 3 2 = 9
Stanford Goal Scorers - Hoversten 2, Bonanni, Bowen, Churnside
UCLA Goal Scorers - P. Reynolds 2, Samuels 2, Wendt 2, Lenhart, L. Reynolds, White
Goalie Saves - Platshon 4 (S); Rapacz 9 (UCLA)