Men’s Water Polo: #1 Stanford Ends UCLA’s Win Streak, 7-5

STANFORD, CA., October 20. THE UCLA's men's water polo team's brief, two-game winning streak came to an abrupt halt here this afternoon as top-ranked and
defending NCAA champ Stanford downed the fourth-ranked Bruins, 7-5, in a non-league match at the Avery Aquatic Center.

With the intense rivalry between UCLA and Stanford, games matching the Cardinal and the Bruins are always tough. However, as in last year's NCAA Championship game, the Cardinal pulled out yet another victory to improve to 16-2 on the season.

UCLA falls to 9-5.

The game was even on most accounts, with Stanford outshooting the Bruins, 25-23. Each team drew five ejections (!), but the Cardinal was able to convert two more goals to earn the 7-5 victory.

UCLA took the early lead on a man-up goal by Michael March, but Card sophomore Reed Gallogly evened out
the score as the first quarter closed at 1-1.

The second quarter was the key to Stanford's victory as the Cardinal outscored UCLA, 3-1. Junior Mike Derse tallied his first mark of the day with 3:50 to go in the second period, but the Bruins came back for their last tie of the day on a four-meter penalty shot by Brett Ormsby. Gallogly and senior Peter Hudnut each posted another score for the Cardinal to secure the 4-2 lead at the half.

Scoring remained even for the rest of the match with each team notching three more goals in the second half. As the end drew near, the game was not locked up for the Cardinal, though. With 1:55 remaining, UCLA scored to cut the Stanford lead to one at 6-5. After Stanford's next shot was blocked, the Bruins had the ball with just over one minute remaining, but senior goalie Nick Ellis stole the ball to prevent the Bruins from tying the game. Stanford pushed the ball up on
offense, but senior Jeff Guyman's shot was blocked and UCLA regained control.

With 21 seconds to go, Gallogly took the ball from his Bruin counterpart and set up senior Jeff Nesmith, who beat his defender and lobbed the ball past the UCLA keeper into the back of the net, securing the 7-5 Stanford win.

The Cardinal will travel south for two Mountain Pacific Sports Federation games next weekend. Stanford's trip begins with UC Irvine on Friday, Oct. 25 at 6 PM and will conclude with a rematch against UCLA on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 1 PM in the Bruins' Sunset Canyon Recreation Center Pool. The Cardinal
returns to The Farm on Nov. 2 for a match against cross-bay rival California at noon.

GAME SUMMARY

TEAM

1 2 3 4 – TOTAL

Stanford 3 1 3 1 – 7
UCLA 1 1 1 2 – 5

Stanford Scoring:
Mike Derse 3, Reed Gallogly 2, Peter Hudnut 1, Jeff Nesmith 1.
UCLA scoring:
Brett Ormsby 2, Josh Hewko 1, Michael March 1, Dan Yielding 1.

Goalie Saves:
Nick Ellis (Stan) 6;
Brandon Brooks (UCLA) 12.

6-on-5:
Stanford 2-4;
UCLA 1-4.

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