LOS ANGELES – No. 3 Stanford dropped a hard-fought 13-12 triple-overtime decision at No. 2 UCLA on Saturday afternoon, kicking off a two-game road swing against the nation’s top two teams.
Stanford (12-5, 1-3 MPSF) had its four-match winning streak snapped despite a gritty effort in which the Cardinal overcame an early deficit and entered the fourth period with a lead.
Gianpiero Di Martire produced a game-high five goals on nine attempts, including a score at the 2:07 mark of the third period that gave Stanford its largest lead at 9-6.
Di Martire also delivered back-to-back goals during the Cardinal’s rally in the second quarter, as Stanford outscored UCLA 5-2 over that eight-minute stretch.
Ben Forer and Alex Gheorge added two goals apiece, with Forer also contributing four assists. Gheorge’s six earned exclusions led all players while Will Schneider finished with four.
The Cardinal was competitive throughout against the Bruins, with all three meetings this season having been decided by three goals or less.
UCLA (19-1, 3-1 MPSF) built an early 3-1 lead before Stanford roared back in the second period to seize control of the game. Trailing 4-2, Di Martire’s second goal of the quarter was the first of four unanswered scores, with Ryan Ohl making it 6-4 at the 1:19 mark.
The Cardinal maintained a two-goal advantage in the third quarter before Di Martire stretched it to 9-6 with 2:07 on the clock.
The Bruins finally evened it up at 9-9 with 7:38 left in the fourth quarter before the teams traded two more scores.
After a scoreless first overtime period, UCLA moved in front 12-11 in the second overtime session before Gheorge responded at the 1:02 mark.
Frederico Juca Carsalade’s penalty shot with 1:12 remaining in the third overtime was the difference.
West Temkin kept the Cardinal within striking distance, making 15 saves in goal.
Stanford returns to action on Sunday, Nov. 3, facing No. 1 USC.
No. 3 Stanford at No. 2 UCLA
STAN 1 – 5 – 3 – 2 – 0 – 1 – 0 = 12
UCLA 3 – 2 – 3 – 3 – 0 – 1 – 1 = 13
STAN Goals: G. Di Martire (5), Forer (2), Gheorghe (2), Balogh (1), Ohl (1), Schneider (1)
UCLA Goals: Carsalade (3), R. Dodd (2), Liechty (2), Szecsi (2), Carson (1), Castillo (1), Rowe (1), Sherlock (1)