Last-Second Goal Lifts No. 1 Stanford Past No. 2 UCLA

Saturday, October 13

Stanford, CA

5:20 PM

UCLA

Stanford

Redshirt junior goalkeeper Alex Wolf registered a season-high-tying 12 saves in the loss to Stanford.

Photo by: Minette Rubin

Last-Second Goal Lifts No. 1 Stanford Past No. 2 UCLA

October 13, 2018 | Men's Water Polo

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STANFORD, Calif. -- No. 2 UCLA dropped its first game of the 2018 season (18-1) in a heartbreaking 8-7 loss at No. 1 Stanford in the semifinals of the Mountain Pacific Invitational on Saturday evening at Avery Pool at Avery Aquatic Center. Stanford improved to 84-72 all-time against the Bruins and remain as the only undefeated team in collegiate water polo (13-0).

The Bruins were led by freshman Jake Cavano and sophomore Nicolas Saveljic, who each scored a game-high two goals. Redshirt junior Alex Wolf started in the cage and went the distance, recording 12 saves while allowing eight goals.

Stanford struck first with a goal from the front court by Dylan Woodhead (4:20). It was the only goal of the first period as the Bruins went 0-for-4 on power plays.

Freshman Jake Cavano opened the scoring in the second period with a score after the ordinary (7:16). Quinn Woodhead put the Cardinal up 2-1 with a power play goal (3:16). Then AJ Rossman scored from the front court for the Cardinal (2:20) to extend the lead to 3-1 for Stanford. Tyler Abramson put Stanford up 4-1 with a goal from the front court (0:44). The Bruins scored the final goal of the quarter on a power play strike by sophomore Evan Rosenfeld (0:18) to trim the deficit to 4-2 at the break.

Cavano opened the scoring in the third period with a goal from the front court (7:30) to cut the Stanford lead to 4-3. Then sophomore Quinten Osborne scored on a back-handed shot from two meters (3:50) to tie the game at 4-4. Jackson Seybold scored on a cross-cage shot for the Cardinal as Stanford regained the lead at 5-4. Freshman Matthew Kacura scored on a skip shot (0:06) to tie the game at 5-5 heading into the fourth.

Blake Parrish opened the scoring in the fourth with a power play goal (6:40) for the Cardinal as Stanford regained the lead, 6-5. Sophomore Nicolas Saveljic answered with a power play goal (6:13) to tie the game at 6-6. Then he scored his second of the game (2:18) to give the Bruins their first lead of the game at 7-6. Bennett Williams scored a power play goal (0:54) for Stanford to tie the game at 7-7. A defensive stop by Stanford on the Bruins' next possession, set up the Cardinal's game-winning shot by Seybold, who used a skipper to beat Wolf with just one second remaining.

The Bruins return to action tomorrow when they face No. 4 California (14-2) at 1:00 p.m. PT at Avery Aquatic Center in the third-place game.

No. 2 UCLA at No. 1 Stanford (Mountain Pacific Invitational Semifinal)

SCOREBOARD	1	2	3	4	FINAL
No. 2 UCLA	0	2	3	2	7
No. 1 Stanford	1	3	1	3	8

6x5 - UCLA - 3/12 - STAN - 3/9
Penalties - UCLA - 0/0 - STAN - 0/0

UCLA Goals: Jake Cavano 2, Nicolas Saveljic 2, Evan Rosenfeld 1, Quinten Osborne 1, Matthew Kacura 1
UCLA Saves: Alex Wolf 12

STAN Goals: Jackson Seybold 2, Dylan Woodhead 1, AJ Rossman 1, Quinn Woodhead 1, Tyler Abramson 1, Blake Parrish 1, Bennett Williams 1
STAN Saves: Oliver Lewis 7