Men’s water polo clinches narrow victory against Stanford

No. 3 UCLA men’s water polo faced No. 1 Stanford Friday in a matchup that held a lot of weight for postseason potential, and the atmosphere at Spieker Aquatics Center reflected that fact.

Bruins supporters showed up in typical big game fashion: the cheers of a rowdy student section interspersed with spirited numbers from the UCLA marching band.

The venue set the stage for a high-energy contest, and neither team disappointed in a game that came down to the last play but saw the Bruins prevail 7-6. Each team matched the other’s intensity, with each squad receiving seven exclusions in a game that saw aggressive play on both ends of the pool.

Every time UCLA and Stanford have met this season – a total of three meetings – one of the two has been ranked No. 1. Every time, the top seed has fallen.

The Bruins struggled slightly on offense, notching only seven goals, but a stellar performance from sophomore goalie Garrett Danner and consistent defensive play from UCLA as a whole allowed Stanford to score only six times.

“That’s what sports are all about: finding a way to get it done when something’s not going,” said coach Adam Wright. “Garrett’s an unbelievable goalie. He’s the anchor of our defense, the leader of our defense and today we won a great game.”

Danner’s game-high eight saves earned him defensive player of the match honors and managed to stem the tide of a dynamic Stanford attack.

As the clock wound down in the fourth quarter, the Cardinal found themselves with the ball and 28 seconds left – an opportunity to tie the game at seven goals apiece. As the Spieker spectators stood in unison and collectively held their breath, Stanford advanced down the pool with its usual frenetic tempo.

“A lot of it was just team composure, really. Everyone was just keeping to themselves,” said sophomore center Gordon Marshall of Stanford’s fourth quarter comeback. “As a group, we were just keeping each other under control.”

Less than 10 seconds remained on the clock as Stanford fired its last shot of the game, only to be met with the palm of sophomore attacker Ryder Roberts. UCLA regained possession as time expired, officially overthrowing the nation’s top team and giving itself a chance to once again reign atop the rankings.

“It’s always a little bit of a nerve-wracker, but I know my team’s defense and I know they’re always there for me,” Danner said of the tense late-game situation. “Ryder made an awesome field block to solidify the game.”

In an evenly distributed offensive effort, UCLA found the consistency it has been searching for for the past two weeks. While its production slacked and its efficiency showed room for improvement, Marshall continued to impress.

After scoring a career-high five goals against Cal last weekend, Marshall – the offensive player of the game – had a game-high two goals, exhibiting his forceful and energetic ability by capitalizing on opportunities and creating his own plays.

With a major win over Stanford behind them, UCLA carried their intensity on the road, defeating No. 7 UCSB 10-7 on Sunday. Despite the opposing team being awarded 16 power plays and one penalty, Danner once again held his own in the goal and managed to hold off the Gauchos’ offensive onslaught.