California Golden Bears Athletics
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Stanford
No. 3 Cal Men's Water Polo Tipped by No. 2 Stanford, 8-7, and No. 1 USC, 8-6, at NorCal Invitational
9/20/2009 12:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 20, 2009
STANFORD, CALIF. - The No. 3-ranked Cal men's water polo team (7-2) was tipped by No. 2-ranked and host Stanford, 8-7, Sunday, Sept. 20 in the semifinal of the NorCal Invitational at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center and then fell to No. 1-ranked USC, 8-6, in the tournament third-place match.
Against the Trojans, the defending 2008 NCAA champions, the Golden Bears were led by goals from sophomore standout Ivan Rackov, senior Spencer Warden, junior Brian Dudley, junior Iosefa Tuiasau, sophomore Travis Bickham and redshirt freshman Spencer White. Cal and USC were tied, 3-3, after the first period, but the Trojans outscored the Bears, 5-2, in the next two periods on the way to their two goal win.
In the earlier match against Stanford, the Bears were led by Rackov's three goals, and solo scores from senior captain Mike Sample, Warden, Dudley and Zach White. Cal had comeback from an 8-4 deficit entering the fourth quarter by outscoring the Cardinal, 3-0, in the final period. Unfortunately for the Bears, their rally fell short to give them their first loss of the 2009 season.
Cal was 2-0 Saturday at the NorCal Invitational, defeating Santa Clara 14-9 and UC Santa Barbara, 12-8. The Bears will next travel to Pacific for a non-conference match on Saturday, Sept. 26 at noon in Stockton.
NORCAL INVITATIONAL (Sept. 19-20, 2009) DAY 2 (Sept. 20) Avery Pool - 3rd Place MatchGame 31 - USC vs. California California - 3 1 1 1 = 6 USC - 3 3 2 0 = 8
California Goal Scorers - Ivan Rackov, Travis Bickham, Brian Dudley, Spencer Warden, Spencer White, Iosefa Tuiasau
USC Goal Scorers - Artukovich, Buckner, Burton, Krumpholz, Kurzeka, Sagehorn, Sterling, Thompson
Goalie Saves: - Wil Toppen 7 (C); Dennerley 7 (USC)
Game 20 - Stanford vs. California California - 1 3 0 3 = 7 Stanford - 2 3 3 0 = 8
California Goal Scorers - Ivan Rackov 3, Brian Dudley, Mike Sample, Spencer Warden, Zach White
Stanford Goal Scorers - D. Wigo 2, McCarthy, Noll, Pulido, Rudolph, Schwimer, J. Wigo
Goalie Saves: - Sandman 10 (S); Wil Toppen 5 (C)
