STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford went up one in the first, Pacific came back and was within a goal at halftime and early in the fourth, but the No. 2 Cardinal used a string of late goals to pull away from the visiting No. 7 Tigers, 11-8, at Avery Aquatic Center on Saturday afternoon.
With the result, the Cardinal finished its regular season with a 22-3 overall record and a 7-1 mark in MPSF play. It’s the first time Stanford has won 22 of its first 25 games since 2002, when the Cardinal went 24-5 overall and won the program’s 10th NCAA National Championship.
Stanford wrapped up the No. 2 seed in next weekend’s MPSF Tournament in Long Beach, Calif. and will play at 1:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals on Nov. 21.
Following lefty Ikko Saito’s goal to open the fourth quarter with 7:06 left, Pacific (13-11, 1-6 MPSF) was one goal down, 7-6. Alex Bowen scored his second of the game 20 seconds later and was freed up when Bret Bonanni was doubled up top, but the Tigers responded again on Devon Thumwood’s fourth of the day to make the score 8-7 with 3:14 remaining.
That’s when Stanford clamped down and pulled away. Bonanni started the spurt with his third of the afternoon, streaking down the pool on the break and receiving a long-range pass from Cardinal goalkeeper Drew Holland. Jackson Kimbell added another with 1:32 to go and Connor Stapleton capped the run with another as the clock hit 0:48. Bowen took it in down the right side, was doubled, and floated a nice cross-cage pass to the sophomore, whose 22nd of the year put the Cardinal on top, 11-7.
Pacific’s Michael Woodbury scored with 0:29 to go, but following the goal, Drew Holland and Cody Smith lobbed the ball back and forth to run out the clock.
The win was Stanford’s fifth in a row and eighth in its last nine games.
Mens Senior Game today! Amazing to have one of our own sing the National Anthem! Go @StanfordMWP pic.twitter.com/bgKX2Y7AlI
— Maggie Steffens (@maggiesteffens) November 15, 2014
Adam Abdulhamid scored both of his goals in the first quarter and helped the Cardinal to a 4-1 advantage after the first eight minutes. He opened and closed the frame with marks at 6:22 and 0:39 and was joined by senior Conner Cleary’s eighth goal of the year with 2:51 on the clock and freshman Cody Smith’s 41st at 1:12.
Pacific stormed back in the second, scoring four times two the Cardinal’s two, and was down 6-5 at the half.
Stanford registered the game’s only goal in the third quarter before the decisive fourth secured victory.
The Cardinal’s three-man senior class of Conner Cleary, Nick Hoversten and Alex Bowen was honored in a pregame ceremony.
No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 7 Pacific
Nov. 15, 2014 • Stanford, Calif.
UOP 1 – 4 – 0 – 3 = 8
STAN 4 – 2 – 1 – 4 = 11
Stanford Goals: Bret Bonanni 3, Adam Abdulhamid 2, Alex Bowen 2, Conner Cleary, Jackson Kimbell, Cody Smith, Connor Stapleton,
Stanford Saves: Drew Holland 10
Pacific Goals: Devon Thumwood 4, Tim Reeves, Ikko Saito, Ben Stevenson, Michael Woodbury
Pacific Saves: Brady Moore 16