Cardinal water polo second in SoCal tourney Cardinal water polo second in SoCal tourney (September 21, 2005)

Men reach finals against USC with upset of NCAA champ UCLA

by Rick Eymer

After finishing second in the SoCal Tournament over the weekend at UC Irvine, the Stanford men's water polo team now knows how well it can do without two-time Olympian Tony Azevedo.

That's good news for the fourth-ranked Cardinal (6-1), which takes a short break before hosting Pacific on Thursday, Sept. 29.

Stanford lost, 6-5, to USC in the championship match, but the road to the final contest included a significant 10-9 sudden-death victory over defending national champion and top-ranked UCLA in the semifinals.

Stanford also beat Pepperdine, 7-6, and UC Santa Barbara, 11-5, in the tournament.

With the NCAA tournament comprised of four teams from three leagues around the country, every victory counts. The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation is assured of just one berth in the Final Four, though the conference usually fills the at-large spot.

While the win has significant value in terms of the NCAA tournament, it also means Stanford knows it can play with any team in the nation, and the top teams are always in the MPSF.

Stanford held a 5-4 lead over USC entering the fourth quarter but the Trojans took advantage of a man-up situation to tie the game, and won it with a goal in the final four minutes.

Peter Varellas scored two goals and Sandy Hohener made fives saves to lead Stanford.

Thomas Hopkins was Stanford's leading scorer in the tournament with 11 goals. Hohener recorded 28 saves.

Against the Bruins, there wasn't much to separate the two teams until Hopkins connected on a penalty shot 4:33 into the sudden death period.

Hopkins and UCLA's Grant Zider, a Menlo School grad, each scored in overtime to send the match into sudden death.

Stanford's Forrest Schwartz sent the game into overtime with a goal in the final second of play in regulation.

Hopkins and Varellas combined for seven goals, while William Hindle-Katel added two goals. Zider led UCLA with four goals.

Palo Alto grad Ryan Fortune scored against the Gauchos.

Men's soccer

Stanford dropped both matches in the Bay Area Classic over the weekend, losing to host Santa Clara, 2-1, in overtime on Friday, and to visiting USF, 1-0, on Sunday.

The Cardinal (1-4-1) scored the first goal against the Broncos when Marcus Ryan scored on a penalty shot in the 21st minute.

Santa Clara tied the score in the 86th minute when Gunn grad Mehdi Ballouchy drew the Stanford defense before passing to Keith DeVey of the top of the penalty box. DeVey drove a low shot under Cardinal goalkeeper Josh Nesbitt.

Jide Ogunbiyi scored the game winner in the 97th minute. Gunn product Matt Marquess also plays for the Broncos.

Against USF, the Cardinal managed just five shots and Galen Thompson produced the only two shots on goal.

Stanford hosts the Stanford Nike Classic beginning Friday. The Cardinal take on Alabama-Birmingham on Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Army on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Women's soccer

Stanford split two matches at the Tennessee Tournament over the weekend, beating the host Lady Vols, 1-0, on Friday and losing, 1-0, to Texas A&M on Sunday.

The Cardinal (3-3-1) travel to Navy for a match on Thursday at 4 p.m

Sophomore Lizzy George scored the game-winning goal against Tennessee in the 52nd minute with an assist from Leah Tapscott. Freshman goalie Alex Gamble recorded her second shutout, getting three saves.

Stanford held the 14th-ranked Aggies scoreless into the 70th minute on Sunday.

"In the first half, the two teams were even, but in the second half, we deserved to get a goal," Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe said. "We dominated the whole second half and they scored against the run of play. We're very disappointed that we didn't win, but we're looking forward to our next game at Navy."

Gamble had a career-high six saves against Texas A&M.

Field hockey

Stanford lost, 1-0, to host California on Saturday in Nor Pac Conference play.

"We played a hard game," Stanford coach Lesley Irvine said. "It was a very competitive game that could have gone either way. We played them well, but didn't convert our offensive opportunities. The defense had a fabulous game. Our captains were very inspirational to the rest of the team. Tammy Shuer anticipated well and had a great game."

Stanford (1-1, 2-8) play at Pacific on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Men's golf

Stanford shot a final round of 303 to finish eighth with a 907 at the Gopher Invitational at Spring Hill Golf Club in Wayzata, Minn.

Host Minnesota won the event with a total of 883, followed by Washington.

Stanford sophomore Rob Grube shot a 219 over three days to finish 10th as an individual.

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