STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford men's water polo opens the 2016 season this weekend down in San Diego.
The Cardinal will play four matches total, competing in the Triton Invitational on the UC San Diego campus on Saturday and the UCLA Invitational in San Diego on Sunday.
Stanford will open the 2016 campaign Saturday at 8:40 a.m. PT against UCSD, before facing Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 2:40 p.m. PT, at the Triton Pool at Canyonview Aquatic Center on the UCSD campus. The Cardinal will participate in the UCLA Invitational at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego on Sunday, facing Chapman at 10:20 a.m. PT and Redlands at 1 p.m. PT.
Stanford begins its 15th season under the direction of The Dunlevie Family Director of Men's Water Polo, John Vargas, in 2016. Vargas has amassed an impressive 290-89 career record on The Farm, posting nine 20-win seasons that also includes the 2002 NCAA Championship.
The Cardinal will miss the graduation of three of its top four scorers – Bret Bonanni (94), Adam Abdulhamid (59) and BJ Churnside (33) – from last season, who collectively accounted for 186 goals last fall. Bonanni is the Stanford and MPSF career scoring leader, finishing his stellar Cardinal career with 360 goals.
However, a deep Stanford roster that returns 16 letterwinners will see several individuals step into expanded roles in 2016.
Junior Cody Smith posted 14 goals in the Cardinal's final 10 games and finished the season tied for fifth on the team with 27 goals last year.
Expect to see a lot more of Mitchell Mendoza this season. The redshirt sophomore netted 25 goals last season, despite missing nearly half the year.
The Cardinal welcomes a heralded five-member freshman class that could see several individuals contribute immediately.
Stanford, which was picked fourth in the 2016 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Preseason Coaches' poll, will make its first appearance at Avery Aquatics Center this season on Saturday, Sept. 10, against UC Irvine at 1 p.m. PT.
