LOS ANGELES – The No. 2 Cardinal kicked off the 2024 postseason run in emphatic fashion this morning, defeating Penn State-Behrend 26-2 to move on in the MPSF Tournament. The 26 goals are the most in a game for Stanford since scoring 27 in 2022.
The Cardinal exploded out of the gate, scoring a dozen to go ahead 12-0 at the end of the first quarter. Leading the way was Alex Gheorghe with three goals.
Stanford added 11 more in the second quarter to make it a 23-0 advantage at the half.
West Temkin put up numbers on both ends of the pool, making 10 saves and dishing out seven assists before exiting at the break.
Gheorghe finished with five goals to lead all scorers, with Botond Balogh right behind him at four goals scored. In total, eight members of the Cardinal finished with multiple goals, and 13 different players scored.
Grant Watson was a key driver on offense, dishing out five assists. Harrison Rohlen entered as a substitute for Temkin at halftime, and finished with six saves himself.
Stanford moves on to the MPSF Semifinal tomorrow, taking on No. 3 USC. The game starts at 1:45 p.m. PT, and can be streamed on Overnght.
No. 2 Stanford vs. Penn St.-Behrend
PSB 0 – 0 – 0 – 2 = 2
STAN 12 – 11 – 3 – 0 = 26
STAN Goals: A. Gheorghe (5), B. Balogh (4), W. Schneider (2), CJ Indart (2), R. Ohl (2), J. Merrill (2), E. Parrish (2), C. McFarland (2), D. McFarland, R. Pittman, S. Jensen, J. Painter, T. Pulice
PSB Goals: E. Blasky, R. Bakh