STANFORD, Calif. - For the first time since 2020, Stanford is competing in the NCAA Championship. The fourth-seeded Cardinal hosts the eight-team tournament, opening play on Friday against No. 5 Princeton.
Winning on Friday would see the Card playing again on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. PT, taking on the winner of Friday's game between UCLA and Salem (WV).
MEETING AGAIN, FOR ALL THE MARBLES » Stanford enters the eight-team bracket having already seen three of the opposing seven teams a combined eight times, going 5-3 against Long Beach State (2-0), USC (2-2) and UCLA (1-1).
ALL-CONFERENCE CARD » Seven members of the Cardinal were named to the All-MPSF West team this week, with Riley Pittman, Soren Jensen and West Temkin earning First Team honors. Dash McFarland and Jackson Painter earned Second Team honors, while Ethan Parrish and Will Schneider picked up Honorable Mention recognition.
HISTORY REFRESHER » Stanford men's water polo has claimed 11 NCAA titles and 12 national titles overall, with its most recent victory coming in 2019. The Cardinal has now made 35 all-time NCAA appearances.
LEADING THE CARD » Riley Pittman and Soren Jensen have both dominated in 2024, and are tied for the team lead with 87 total points. Jensen has the edge in goals, 51 to 48, while Pittman leads in assists, 39 to 36.
SOREN TO NEW HEIGHTS » Jensen has scored in bunches this season, leading the team with 15 multi-goal games and boasting the season high for single-game goals with seven at California in October.
FRESHMEN ON FIRE » The freshmen have been key contributors so far this season, with Ryan Ohl, Botond Balogh, Ben Forer and Will Schneider combining for 110 points (71 goals 39 assists).
STAUNCH DEFENSE » Stanford has done a great job limiting opponent attacks this season, allowing just 221 goals in 25 games, the fewest in the MPSF and an average of just 8.84 goals a game.
PAINTING OVER THE RECORD BOOK » Jackson Painter's 184th career goal against No. 7 California tied him for the 10th most in a career for the Cardinal. Another score gives Painter sole possesion of the mark, while 10 more goals will put him into a tie with Ben Hallock (2017-20) for the ninth-most.
VETERAN STANDOUTS » The Card returns three All America selections from 2023 in Painter, Pittman and Ethan Parrish. The trio extended a nearly-fifty-year run of Stanford landing multiple student-athletes on an All America team every year since 1975.
CARDINAL, WHITE AND BLUE » Four Cardinal products took home bronze with Team USA at this summer's Paris Olympic Games. Ben Hallock, Alex Bowen, Dylan Woodhead and Drew Holland were a part of the first Olympic medal since 2008, with Hallock serving as the team captain.