2012 NorCal Invitational Central

NCAA.com - Players to watch in 2012

STANFORD, Calif. - Water polo fans will get the chance to see the nation's top teams in action at Avery Aquatic Center this weekend as No. 4 Stanford Men's Water Polo hosts the NorCal Invitational Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15-16.

Joining the Cardinal (No. 4 in the CWPA Varsity Top 20 poll) at this weekend's tournament are USC (No. 1), UCLA (2), California (3), UC Santa Barbara (5), UC Irvine (6), Pacific (7), Pepperdine (8), Long Beach State (9), Loyola Marymount (10), UC San Diego (11), UC Davis (12), Santa Clara (14), Air Force (16), Concordia (19) and Pomona-Pitzer.

Admission will be charged for this weekend's tournament at Avery Aquatic Center. Day pass rates are $20 for adults, $15 for non-Stanford students with a valid school ID and free for both Stanford students with a valid SUID and children six years of age and under.

All-Tournament passes will not be sold and all seating will be general admission throughout the weekend.

Stanford, the fourth overall seed in the draw and top team in Bracket D, opens tournament play Saturday at 10:50 a.m. against Santa Clara in the Avery Pool. The Cardinal is matched up with the Broncos along with UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis in Bracket D.

The Cardinal hosts the NorCal Invitational every third year in a rotation that includes California and Pacific. Stanford last hosted the event in 2009, where it swept California and USC on the second day to capture the tournament crown.

Action from Brackets A and D will take place in the Avery Pool beginning at 8 a.m. while Brackets B and C games will be hosted in Belardi Pool.

Heading into this season, NCAA.com released it's "Players To Watch" list, which included Cardinal standouts Alex Bowen and Forrest Watkins.

Bowen, last year's MPSF Newcomer of the Year and an ACWPC first-team All-American, led the Cardinal with 53 goals as a utility in 2011. Watkins, a redshirt junior two-meter, tied for second on the team in 2011 with 42 goals, earning nods to the ACWPC All-America Second Team as well as to the All-MPSF First Team.