Oct. 7, 2006

BERKELEY, CALIF. - In the battle for the Steve Heaston Trophy, the No. 2-ranked California men's water polo team (14-2, 0-1) was upset by the No. 6-ranked Stanford Cardinal (6-4, 1-1), 11-9, Saturday afternoon at the Big Splash at Spieker Aquatics Complex. The Cardinal were led by senior J.J. Garton's match-high five goals, and were sparked by the second half goalie play of sophomore Jimmie Sandman, who had six blocks in two periods, including blocking a five-meter penalty shot with 29 seconds left in the match. Cal was led by senior Andrija Vasiljevic's three goals.

The Golden Bears had owned a 6-5 halftime advantage on a pair of goals by Vasiljevic, and goals by Brian Kinsel, Michael Sharf, Jeff Tyrrell and John Mann, but were outscored, 6-3, in the second half. Down one goal entering the third period, Stanford notched the first two goals in the third quarter - at 7:05 in the third on a lob shot by Drac Wigo, and then took its first lead of the contest on a shot by Will Hindle-Katel with 5:44 in the third period. Cal was able to tie the match on a nifty inside move by junior All-American Sharf with 2:01 left in the period.

However, the Cardinal took control of the contest for good on a Garton goal with 26 seconds left in the third period, followed by another Garton goal with 7:01 left in the match for a 9-7 lead. The Bears were able to get within a single goal twice in the fourth quarter - on a Vasiljevic goal at 5:25, and on All-American Mann's five-meter penalty shot with 2:45 left in the match. Yet, goals by Stanford junior Michael Bury at 4:42 and 2:05 in the fourth period kept Cal at bay. The final play that doomed Cal was Sandman's block of Mann's five-meter penalty shot with 29 seconds left in the match.

The Bears and the Cardinal will next compete at the SoCal Open, Oct. 14-15 at USC.

Stanford           2    3    3    3    11
California         3    3    1    2    9
Stanford Scoring: Garton 5, Bury 3, Drake,
Drac Wigo, Hindle-Katel
Cal Scoring: Vasiljevic 3, Mann 2, Sharf 2,
Tyrrell, Kinsel
Goalie saves: Vacquier (Cal) 7;
Hohener (Stan) 3, Sandman (Stan) 6