STANFORD, Calif. – Finishing its weekend homestand at Avery Stadium, No. 5 Stanford men's water polo dropped a ranked matchup with No. 1 UCLA, 11-7. The Cardinal moves to 10-5 on the season and 1-2 in conference play.
Grant Watson, Riley Pittman and Jackson Painter scored two goals apiece to lead the offense, while Pittman led the way with two assists and two steals. Griffen Price made nine saves between the posts.
Stanford struck first in the opening quarter as Christopher Arakelian skipped a shot into the back of the net, but UCLA responded to take a 3-1 lead after 7:30. Watson scored with eight seconds left in the period, but UCLA scored as time expired to lead 4-2 at the first break.
Pittman pulled Stanford within one with six minutes to go in the first half, 4-3, but the Cardinal was held scoreless the remainder of the half and trailed at the intermission, 6-3.
Painter added both of his goals over the final 16 minutes, but Stanford was not able to get closer than a three goal deficit as the teams traded goals in the second half.
Stanford's seven-game homestand continues on Saturday, Oct. 14 with an MPSF battle against rival California. The action begins at 1 p.m. on Pac-12 Network.