Sept. 28, 2006

Stanford, Ca - The schedule doesn't get any easier for the nationally-ranked Stanford men's water polo team.

Armed with a 5-3 record, the sixth-ranked Cardinal travels to third-ranked UCLA on Saturday (Sept. 30) in a game to be played at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center in Pasadena at 3:00 p.m. On Oct. 7, Stanford travels to second-ranked California, and on Oct. 14-15, Stanford will face several nationally-ranked teams at the Southern California Tournament at USC. The Cardinal does not return home until Oct. 21 to face Pepperdine (Noon).

Stanford started the season with a 5-0 record, but has dropped three straight one-goal decisions. First it was a 10-9 verdict to then top-ranked California in a NorCal game at Stanford, then a 7-6 loss to UCLA later the same day, and then a 11-10 overtime upset loss at fifth-ranked Pacific last week.

In the first meeting between Stanford and UCLA, the Bruins scored first, and the Cardinal was never able to tie or go ahead in the game. Tyler Drake led Stanford with two goals. Jimmie Sandman started in goal and registered a career-high ten saves.

Four Stanford players have scored in double-digits this year. Will Hindle-Katel leads the team with 17 goals, including a career-high five goals in a recent game against California. Freshman Janson Wigo has 15 goals followed by Tyler Drake with eleven, and Drac Wigo with ten. Sandy Hohener has 44 saves in five games this year.

Cardinal Catalogue
UCLA, Stanford's opponent on Saturday (3 p.m.) at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center in Pasadena, is 5-1 and ranked third in the nation ... The Stanford-UCLA game will be the first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) game for both teams this year ... Krsto Sbutega leads the Bruins attack with 12 goals followed by Logan Powell with ten ... The Bruins offense is second-best in the MPSF at 13.00 goals per game ... Stanford is seventh in the MPSF at 9.88 goals per game ... UCLA's defense is only giving up 4.33 goals per game, tops in the MPSF ... Stanford is giving up seven goals per game, fourth-best in the league ... USC remains the top-ranked team in the nation by the Collegiate Water Polo Association ... Cal is second followed by UCLA, UC San Diego, Pacific, Stanford, Loyola Marymount, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara and Navy.