STANFORD, Calif. – No. 5 Stanford improved to 5-0 to open the season with a 10-5 victory over No. 8 UC Irvine Saturday afternoon at Avery Aquatic Center.
The Anteaters scored 18 seconds into the match and Stanford found itself trailing for the first time this season, however it didn't last long. Junior Cody Smith put home a score 24 seconds later to tie it up and the Cardinal never looked back, en route to the five-goal victory.
Roberto took a nice feed from Harrison Enright and put home the goal 2:05 into the match to break the 1-1 tie and give the Cardinal the lead for good.
Smith, sophomores Mitchell Mendoza and Blake Parrish, and freshman Bennett Williams had two goals apiece to lead the Cardinal offensively. Stanford also used single scores from senior Kyle Weikert, and junior Justin Roberto in the win.
Blake Parrish with the goal! Stanford now leads UC Irvine, 3-1 in the first quarter pic.twitter.com/S7jrNQKvnf
— Stanford Water Polo (@StanfordMWP) September 10, 2016
UC Irvine got as close as one goal (4-3) with a Jon Polos score just before halftime, but Stanford opened the second half with four consecutive goals to stretch its advantage.
The Cardinal has posted double-digit goals in all five matches this season, highlighted by an 18-goal outburst in the win over Chapman last Sunday.
Stanford will return to Avery Aquatic Center next Saturday, Sept. 17, when the Cardinal hosts No. 2 USC at 1 p.m. PT.