STANFORD, Calif. – The Steve Heaston Trophy is back on The Farm.
No. 3 Stanford used a huge third quarter to surge ahead of top-ranked California, and the Cardinal held off the Bears at the end for the 11-10 Big Splash victory. The win, Stanford's 11th straight, secured the Cardinal (17-3, 2-1 MPSF) a share of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation regular-season title with Cal (18-2, 2-1 MPSF) and a shot at the top-seed in next weekend's MPSF Championships at Avery Aquatic Center.
That winning moment. ??#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/vcYRpyUe18
— Stanford Water Polo (@StanfordMWP) November 9, 2017
The win also brought the Steve Heaston Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Big Splash in honor of the legendary Cal coach, back to The Farm after three years in Berkeley.
Down, 6-5, at the half, Stanford scored six of the next eight goals to surge ahead of Cal. Senior Connor Stapleton tied it up less than 30 seconds into the second half. Two minutes later, Cody Smith delivered a great feed to Marco Stanchi in front of the cage and the junior put it home to give Stanford the 7-6 advantage.
Cal responded with the tying score five seconds later, before Stanford freshman Ben Hallock added to his team-leading goal tally with a highlight-reel score for his 53rd goal of the season. Drawing constant attention from the two-meter position, Hallock created space and fired it behind his back past Cal goalie Kevin Le Vine for the score to put Stanford up for good in the match.
.@Ben_Hallock is good. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/KpfVD9GQkI
— Stanford Water Polo (@StanfordMWP) November 9, 2017
Freshman Sawyer Rhodes and Stapleton sandwiched goals around a Cal score as each posted a hat trick in the match. Smith added a goal in the final minute of the third to stretch Stanford's lead to 11-8.
Count it! Connor Stapleton with the ??trick. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/8QDSotJWFp
— Stanford Water Polo (@StanfordMWP) November 9, 2017
The Bears made a run of their own late in the fourth with a pair of scores to cut it to one goal with 3:26 to play.
They had one last chance to tie it up, but the Cardinal defense held and Conor Neumann's shot with seconds left went left of the cage. Stanford took over possession and ran out the clock as the fans at Avery Aquatic Center erupted in celebration.
Senior Drew Holland completed another outstanding performance in goal. He finished the match with 14 saves, including several key stops throughout the match.
Stanford will close its regular season Saturday at Avery Aquatic Center, as the Cardinal hosts Santa Clara at noon. The program will honor its seven seniors in a special pregame ceremony.