STOCKTON, Calif. – Connor Stapleton, Cody Smith and Ben Hallock led the offensive charge with three goals apiece and goalie Drew Holland anchored the defensive effort with 16 saves as No. 4 Stanford men's water polo downed No. 5 Pacific, 12-7, Saturday night at Chris Kjeldsen Pool.
Hallock, who has scored in all 11 games this season, added to his team-best scoring total. He now has 29 goals on the season.
Holland posted his fifth consecutive double-digit save performance with 16 saves against the Tigers, one short of his season-high.
Stanford (8-3) and Pacific (12-3) went back and forth in the first half, heading into the break tied at 5-5.
Stapleton broke a 6-6 tie with back-to-back goals to end the third quarter and start the fourth, putting the Cardinal ahead for good.
Stapleton's first goal started a five-score burst as Stanford surged ahead, 11-6, with less than two minutes remaining in the match. Hallock, Smith and Jackson Kimbell added scores during the span.
Holland added to his school-record career saves total, which now stands at 821.
Stanford returns home where the Cardinal will host No. 8 UC Santa Barbara next Saturday (Oct. 14) at 4 p.m. PT at Avery Aquatic Center.
