LA JOLLA, Calif. – Redshirt freshman Griffen Price made eight saves while senior Jackson Painter contributed five goals as No. 6 Stanford (5-2) defeated No. 14 UC San Diego (6-4) 9-7 on Friday afternoon from Canyonview Aquatic Center.
Price and the Cardinal defense proved effective early as the two teams combined for just four goals in the first half.
Painter got the scoring started with a goal at 5:40 in the first before CJ Indart made it 2-0 with his only goal of the contest.
Lucas Romaguera, who finished with three goals for UCSD, cut the deficit to one at 2-1 – where it would stay after one quarter.
Only one goal was scored in the second quarter, as Tanner Pulice fired a shot into the back of the net on an assist from Painter with 27 second remaining as Stanford took advantage of a 6-on-5 situation.
Price would finish the first half with four saves in goal for Stanford.
Leading 3-1 at the break, Stanford saw its lead cut to 5-4 as UCSD won the third period three goals to two. Painter and Grant Watson contributed the Cardinal goals in the third, with Watson's tally reclaiming the Cardinal lead after UCSD had drawn even at 4-4.
After UCSD scored the first goal of the fourth to tie the game at 5-5, the Cardinal went on a 3-0 run – highlighted by a pair of goals from Painter – to take an 8-5 advantage. Romaguera would end the run with his third and final goal for UCSD before Painter found the cage for the final time with 2:39 left following a steal from Andrew Churukian.
With the match at 9-7 and 1:27 left to play, Price capped his stellar day with a save on a five-meter penalty shot to thwart any Triton momentum and seal the victory for the Cardinal.
Stanford finished the match with 28 shots and went 4-for-11 on power plays. UCSD fired 26 shots and went 3-for-12 with a player advantage.
Stanford will return to action on Sunday when it travels to No. 11 UC Santa Barbara for a game at noon.
Win: Griffen Price, Loss: Logan Estes
STAN Goals: J.Painter (5), G.Watson, C.Indart, R.Pittman, T.Pulice
UCSD Goals: L.Romaguera (3), A.Buzov, B.Axline, L.Akerstrom, K.Likins
STAN Saves: G. Price (8)
UCSD Saves: L. Estes (12)
