#1 Stanford Defeats #3 Pepperdine, 5-3, in Men’s NCAA Water Polo

PALO ALTO, CA., Nov. 10. TOP-ranked and undefeated Stanford (17-0) swept past Pepperdine in a key Mountain Pacific Sports federation match here this
afternoon, 5-3.

The Cardinal, seeking to make Coach Dante Dettamanti's final season at the Stanford helm a championship year, drowned the Waves on the strength of a pair of goals by Pasi Durtton, who also turned in a stellar defensive effort.

Stanford is now 8-0 in MPSF play and only has to defeat traditional Bay Area rival Cal next Saturday at home to complete a perfect regular season.

The loss drops third-ranked Pepperdine to 12-4, 4-3. The Waves were also beaten last weekend at home by double-defending NCAA Champ UCLA.

The Cardinal (as well as the Waves, Bruins and five other MPSF teams) will travel to Berkeley in two weeks to compete in the MPSF Tournament Nov. 23-25. The winner gains an automatic entry into the NCAA Final Four, set for the first weekend of December at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center.

In the Pepperdine match, also played at Avery, the score was tied three times before the Cardinal took control at 2:46 of the third period when Jeff Nesmeth rifled home his second goal of the afternoon. Peter Hudnut added an insurance goal with 1:56 left in the quarter to solidfy the win.

For the first time all season rookie sensation Tony Azevedo was shut out, but he still leads the nation in scoring and was used sparingly today.

Second-ranked UCLA, which has lost to Stanford thrice this seeason (although only once in MPSF play), was idle and next travels to crosstown foe USC Nov. 17 for its final regular-season game.

UCLA defeated USC at home, 7-5, earlier this season.

— Bill Bell

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