STANFORD, Calif. – Freshman Ben Hallock posted a hat trick and senior Drew Holland matched his season-high with 17 saves to guide No. 4 Stanford men's water polo to an 11-5 victory over No. 8 UC Santa Barbara Saturday evening at Avery Aquatic Center.
.@Ben_Hallock ?? trick pic.twitter.com/hJoieRywxF
— Stanford Water Polo (@StanfordMWP) October 15, 2017
Stanford (9-3) gave its fans, which included a several members of the Cardinal's four NCAA championship teams from the 1980s, a show with its third consecutive win. The program celebrated the achievements of those title-winning teams from the 1980s during a special halftime ceremony.
Special moment as members of Stanford's four NCAA championship teams from the 1980s are honored. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/H1ANnd1y2T
— Stanford Water Polo (@StanfordMWP) October 14, 2017
In the match, the Cardinal erased an early one-goal deficit with back-to-back scores from freshman Sawyer Rhodes and junior Blake Parrish to take a 2-1 advantage after one quarter.
A Gaucho (9-8) goal in the first minute of the second period tied it, but Stanford responded with the next three scores and never looked back. Senior Connor Stapleton started the run, with Hallock punching home his first score and sophomore Bennett Williams connecting on a power play goal to give Stanford the 5-2 halftime advantage.
"Easy money for Connor Stapleton on the score." - @GregMescall
— Stanford Water Polo (@StanfordMWP) October 14, 2017
?? - @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/Yi8H2HWK1s
The Cardinal stretched its lead to 8-4 with a Parrish goal and two more from Hallock in the third quarter.
Stanford continued to push for more offensively in the final period, adding goals from Stapleton, Cody Smith and Reid Chase to earn the 11-5 win.
The 11 goals against UCSB marked the ninth time in 12 matches this season Stanford posted double-digit scores.
Holland matched his season-high with 17 saves in the win, posting his seventh double-digit save performance of the season. He has recorded at least 10 stops in each of the past six matches.
Stanford continues its four-game homestand next Friday as the Cardinal hosts Wagner and Bucknell at 4 p.m. PT and 7 p.m. PT, respectively, at Avery Aquatic Center.