STANFORD, Calif. – Bret Bonanni and Alex Bowen combined to score nine goals and the No. 2 Stanford men’s water polo team parlayed first and third-quarter advantages into a 14-12 victory over No. 5 Long Beach State at Avery Aquatic Center on Saturday afternoon.
Bonanni tied his season high with five scores and Bowen reached the four-goal mark for the third time this year, and first in MPSF play, as Stanford’s potent duo continued their ascent up the Cardinal record books.
Bonanni’s first of the day came on a penalty shot after LBSU’s Milos Vrzic was whistled for an infraction. When the junior slipped it past the 49ers’ Pavo Ljepopio is was the 236th goal of his career, moving him past James Bergeson (1979-82) and alone into second place on Stanford’s career goals list. The science, technology and society major is now at 240, trailing only the 332 Tony Azevedo scored during his time on The Farm (2001-04).
Bowen, too, is closing in on Bergeson and will likely end his career third all-time in Stanford history. The senior now has 229 goals, trailing only Bergeson (235), Bonanni (240) and Azevedo (332).
Their combined firepower was needed, as Stanford (19-3 overall, 5-1 MPSF) held off a feisty 49ers’ squad. Adam Abdulhamid opened up the scoring for Stanford in the first with a goal at 7:22. Bowen scored his first at 5:28 to break a 1-1 tie and ignited a 4-0 Cardinal run, as the product design major was followed by Abdulhamid (4:51), Jackson Kimbell (4:07) and Bonanni’s penalty (1:34).
With the score standing 5-1 in favor of Stanford late in the first, LBSU (15-4 overall, 4-1 MPSF) would storm back and score the game’s next four goals over the ensuing 2:46 to bring things even, 5-5, at 5:48 in the second.
Bonanni answered with two more even-strength goals to pull Stanford ahead, but Devin Mefford scored one of his two (2:10) and Nick Rascon did the same (0:58) to bring LBSU back level into the break, 7-7.
That was the last time the game would be tied. BJ Churnside scored less than a minute into the third quarter (7:09) and Bonanni added an exclusion goal at 6:09. Bowen capped off the three-goal period with his second at 3:42.
At @StanfordMWP. Love this gorgeous pool. pic.twitter.com/oHOJdQ08IX
— Jen Barnes (@jenjenbarnes) November 1, 2014
After Drew Holland stuffed Mefford for one of his 15 saves, Stanford’s sophomore keeper threw the length of the pool to a streaking Bowen, who converted the breakaway. A Zacchary Kappos score at 4:40 was the only goal for the 49ers in the period and the Cardinal led 10-8 heading into the game’s final eight minutes.
A rocket from Bowen rattled the cage at 6:55 in the fourth. Another goal from the senior (5:40) combined with Bonanni’s second penalty (4:18) and a score from Nick Hoversten (3:33) matched Stanford’s largest lead of the day, 14-10, with 3:33 remaining.
Long Beach State would score the game’s final two goals to close within two at the final whistle.
Holland made 15 stops in the cage, his ninth multi-save game of the season and fifth in MPSF play. Abdulhamid’s effort was his sixth of two or more goals thus far in 2014.
Stanford returns to action next Saturday when it heads to Berkeley to take on No. 4 California. This year’s edition of the Big Splash begins at 10:30 a.m. and will be carried live on the Pac-12 Networks.
No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 5 Long Beach State
Nov. 1, 2014 • Stanford, Calif.
LBSU 3 – 4 – 1 – 4 = 12
STAN 5 – 2 – 3 – 4 = 14
Long Beach State Goals: Zacchary Kappos 4, Nolan McConnell 2, Devin Mefford 2, Dimitrios Lappas 2, Nick Rascon 2
Long Beach State Saves: Pavo Ljepopio 5
Stanford Goals: Bret Bonanni 5, Alex Bowen 4, Adam Abdulhamid 2, BJ Churnside, Nick Hoversten, Jackson Kimbell
Stanford Saves: Drew Holland 15