Oct. 5, 2003

STANFORD, CA - The No. 4 ranked California men's water polo team (9-3) upset a pair of top ranked teams Sunday, winning the 2003 NorCal Tournament at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center by defeating the No. 2 ranked Cardinal in the championship match, 10-9, in sudden death overtime. Earlier in the day, the Bears had upset No. 1 ranked USC, 8-6, in overtime in the semifinal.

The deciding goal in the championship match was scored on an extra man situation when Cal's Milos Ribic, a junior from Belgrade, Yugoslavia, powered a shot past Stanford goalkeeper Chad Taylor at 1:09 in sudden death. The game was tied six times. Attila Banhidy gave the Bears the lead at 7-6 at 5:58 of the fourth period, but Stanford's Tony Azevedo scored at 1:08 to again tie the game. Then the unbelievable happened. Cal's Brian Kinsel fired a point-blank shot at the Stanford goal with five seconds remaining on the clock to give the Bears a 8-7 lead. However, Azevedo then fired a long-range shot that flew past Cal goalkeeper Tim Kates. The game was tied at 8-8 heading into overtime.

Banhidy scored to give Cal a 9-8 at 1:58 of the first overtime, but again Azevedo tied the match at 1:45 of the second overtime. But in sudden victory overtime, Ribic scored on a power play to give California the tournament victory. Banhidy and Kinsel led the Bears with two goals apiece, while senior goalie Kates finished with an impressive 18 saves.

Against USC in the semifinal, Cal battled back from a 6-1 third quarter deficit, tied the game with nine seconds to play in regulation and went on to upset previously unbeaten and top-ranked USC, 8-6, in the championship semifinals. The Trojans had entered the game 10-0 on the season, and that included a 10-8 victory over the Golden Bears last week. The Trojans built up what seemed to be an unattainable five goal lead (6-1) at 5:13 of the third period thanks in part to three goals by Juraj Zatovic and two goals by James Shin. Cal then mounted its comeback with five straight goals, including the tying goal with nine seconds in regulation by junior two-meter man Joe Born. Two of those comeback goals were scored by senior All-American Banhidy. Banhidy then got the go-ahead goal at 28 seconds of the first overtime, and senior Will Quist added an insurance goal at 2:15 of the second overtime.

Cal had defeated No. 16 Queens College, 9-2, and No. 5 UC San Diego, 9-5, on Saturday.

California 2 3 1 2 1-0-1 = 10
Stanford 2 0 4 2 0-1-0 = 9

California Scorers: Banhidy 2, Kinsel 2, Panawek 1, Quist 1,
Schuster 1,Matthies 1, Vienna 1, Ribic 1
Stanford Scorers: Azevedo 4, Hopkins 3, Crum 1, Derse 1
Goalie Saves: Kates (C) 18; Taylor (S) 5


California 0 1 2 3 1-1 = 8
USC 2 3 1 0 0-1 = 6

California Scorers: Banhidy 3, Quist 2, Born 1, Schuster 1, Mann 1
USC Scorers: Shin 2, Zatovic 3, Clark 1
Goalie Saves: Bennett (C) 16; Damjanovic (USC) 10