Third Place VictoryThird Place Victory
Scott Gould/isiphotos.com
Men's Water Polo

Third Place Victory

Stanford tops California at MPSF tournament

LOS ANGELES – The No. 2 Cardinal picked up a third win against No. 7 California this season, defeating the Bears 16-5 to win the MPSF Tournament’s third-place game.

After leading 3-2 through the first quarter, the Cardinal caught fire in the second and third quarters. Stanford outscored California 11-2 in the two middle quarters, boasting a 14-4 lead heading into the final quarter of play.

West Temkin was a monster in the cage, stopping a season-high 16 shots as the Card put the clamps on California’s offense.

Eight different players scored for the Card, led by Alex Gheorghe’s three goals. The sophomore finished the MPSF tournament with 12 goals scored across three games, leading the Cardinal.

Jackson Painter’s two goals today moved him into a tie for the 10th-most career scores in Stanford history, finding the back of the net 184 times.

The Cardinal will learn its fate for the NCAA Championships on Monday, with the selection show starting at 9:00 a.m. PT. The championships will be on The Farm this season, running from December 6-8 at Avery Aquatic Center.


No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 7 California

CAL        2 – 0 – 2 – 1 = 5

STAN     3 – 5 – 6 – 0 = 14

STAN Goals: A. Gheorghe (3), B. Balogh (2), S. Jensen (2), J. Painter (2), W. Schneider, C. McFarland, D. McFarland, R. Pittman

CAL Goals: N. Mirkovic (2), J. Gascon, B. Fuchslin, W. Kelly