PLEASANT HILL, CA – The No. 2 ranked California men’s water polo team defeated No. 4 ranked Stanford, 7-4, Friday in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill. The Bears boost their record to 7-1 (3-0 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation), while the Cardinal falls to 5-3.
The match between the Bears and the Cardinal remained tied going into the second quarter, but California pulled ahead with goals scored by two meter juniors Phinney Gardner and Ryan Flynn to leave the score 4-2 going into half. The Cardinal then advanced with two additional goals scored by sophomore driver Brian Heifferon and two meter junior David Hay to tie the match in last 3:25 of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Flynn scored again on a six-on-five advantage to give the Bears the lead with 5:24 remaining in the match. Strong defense along with goals scored by senior drivers Peter Stern and Jeff Moloughney in the last 2:51 minutes of the match clinched the Bear victory against the Cardinal, 7-4.
Leaders for the Bears included two meter juniors Phinney Gardner and Ryan Flynn who scored two goals apiece. Junior goal keeper Peter Kiefer also led the Bears with nine saves, while Cardinal goal keeper Chris Aguilera finished strong with ten.