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LOS ANGELES -- Third-ranked UCLA (5-0, 1-0 MPSF WEST) rallied to defeat No. 6  Stanford (3-2, 0-1 MPSF WEST) on Saturday afternoon at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center in the home opener for the Bruins and the league opener for both teams. The Bruins improved to 81-90 all-time against the Cardinal.

A total of six different Bruins scored in the contest, including a season-high four goals from senior Rafael Real Vergara. Redshirt freshman Frederico Jucá Carsalade made a big splash in his collegiate debut, scoring twice (on three shots), and adding two assists and one steal. Reigning MPSF Newcomer of the Week, Ben Liechty, scored twice as well. Senior Makoto Kenney finished with four points (all assists) and added a field block.

Senior Garret Griggs got the start in the cage and went the distance, registering a season-high 11 saves to go with two steals while surrendering eight goals (the final score at the buzzer went against Kenney, who was in the goalie cap at the time. 

Stanford scored the game's first two goals and the Cardinal would hold a 2-1 lead at the end of the first period. Redshirt sophomore Eli Liechty scored the lone goal for the Bruins on a power play (0:51) off a feed from Kenney.

Both teams battled to a 1-1 draw in the second period as Stanford took a 3-2 lead into the break. After a goal by the Cardinal made it 3-1 (4:33), Real Vergara found the back of the net on a 6-on-5 (0:44) off another pass from Kenney to end the scoring in the second.

Both teams scored four times in the third period as Stanford took a 7-6 lead into the fourth. Former Bruin Tanner Pulice opened the scoring for Stanford (5:37) in the third quarter to put his new team up 4-2. Ben Liechty scored his second of the game (5:13) off a nice feed from Kenney on a power play. After another goal by Stanford (4:53) put the Cardinal up 5-3, the Bruins got back-to-back goals from Jucá Carsalade (3:29 and 2:42) to tie the game at 5-5. Stanford would go back in front with a power play score (1:10), but the Bruins answered with a goal at full strength (0:53), the second from Real Vergara. Stanford would return the favor with 0:28 remaining in the third with a natural goal. The Bruins' shot at the buzzer was a bar-out that left UCLA trailing 7-6 heading into the fourth.

The Bruins won the fourth period, 5-2, to provide the 11-9 final. Stanford scored first when it converted a penalty shot (7:29) to lead 8-6. Real Vergara completed his hat trick on a power play goal (5:34) off a feed from Jucá Carsalade. Then redshirt senior Jack Larsen tied the game up at 8-8 (4:41) with his first goal of the game off another assist from Jucá Carsalade. Redshirt junior Gianpiero Di Martire, playing in his first game of the season, gave the Bruins' their first lead of the contest (3:18) on a goal at full strength. Real Vergara's fourth goal of the game (2:28) would become the eventual-game-winning goal and came on a power play to put the Bruins up 10-8. Ben Liechty scored his second of the game on a power play off an assist from Real Vergara (0:23) to seal the deal. Stanford scored a goal at the buzzer on an wide open goal to end the scoring.

UP NEXT: The Bruins will head to the Inland Empire Classic at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps for a pair of games on Sunday, Sept. 10. UCLA will take on No. 12 UC San Diego (4-2) at 9:30 a.m. PT before ending the weekend with only its second-ever meeting with Cal Lutheran (1-3) at 2:30 p.m. PT..

No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 6 Stanford (MPSF Contest - Game 5)

SCOREBOARD	1	2	3	4	FINAL
No. 6 Stanford	2	1	4	2	9
No. 3 UCLA	1	1	4	5	11

6x5 - UCLA - 7/13 - STAN - 1/8
Penalties - UCLA - 0/1 - STAN - 2/2

STAN Goals: Riley Pittman 2, Grant Watson 1, Jack Merrill 1, CJ Indart 1, Ethan Parrish 1, Tanner Pulice 1, Gavin West 1, Jackson Painter 1
STAN Saves: Nolan Krutonog 6, Griffen Price 1

UCLA Goals: Rafael Real Vergara 4, Frederico Jucá Carsalade 2, Ben Liechty 2, Eli Liechty 1, Gianpiero Di Martire 1, Jack Larsen 1
UCLA Saves: Garret Griggs 11