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Semifinal Game 2 - 2005 National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship
Dec. 3, 2005 LEWISBURG, Pa. - Marcello Pantuliano scored two goals to lead second-seeded Stanford to a 7-6 victory over third-seeded Loyola Marymount in the NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship semifinals Saturday at Bucknell's Kinney Natatorium. The Cardinal (20-6) advance to Sunday's championship game against No. 1 USC, which defeated St. Francis (N.Y.), 14-8, in the other semifinal. Five other Stanford players netted goals as the Cardinal scored four unanswered goals after falling behind 2-1 late in the first quarter. Pantuliano's first goal tied the game at 2-2 with one second on the clock in the first quarter and Stanford did not trail the rest of the game. The Cardinal scored the first three goals of the second quarter as they held Loyola Marymount scoreless for more than six minutes in building a 5-2 advantage. Cutberto Hernandez, who tied Endre Rex-Kiss for team-high honors with two goals, ended the Loyola Marymount drought with his first goal in the closing minutes of the first half. However, the Lions would go nearly six more minutes without a goal as Stanford built a 6-3 lead. Loyola Marymount did close the gap with two goals in the final 2:25 of the third quarter and the lone goal of the fourth quarter. Brian McShane narrowed the deficit to 7-6 with a goal with 4:29 remaining in the contest. Stanford, which was led by goalkeeper's Sandy Hohener four saves, needed a defensive stop on the last play of regulation to preserve the victory. Nik Barr made a steal of a pass and the Cardinal ran out the clock. Stanford, which is making its 28th NCAA appearance, advanced to the championship game for the 19th time. Loyola Marymount (18-16) was led by goalie Ian Elliott, who made 13 saves as Stanford peppered him with 26 shots.
GAME SUMMARY
Stanford Goals: Marcello Pantuliano 2, Tyler Drake, Ryan Fortune, J.J. Garton, William Hindle-Katel, Peter Varellas. On last play of the game... "The last play was drawn up to get the ball back around to the left side of the goal, it was just a bad pass that didn't work for us."
Stanford Head Coach John Vargas On what he learned about team in final two minutes... "We had the will to win. We played those guys before and beat them by seven goals. It was their mentality that they could come in and play free and easy, relaxed. We were expected to win and I think our guys felt that way, so I thought we played real well considering that."
Stanford senior defenseman Peter Varellas On playing the championships on the East coast... "Personally, I believe Stanford has the best facility to play water polo in the country and I've been fortunate to have some really exciting huge games there. I think it's good to have it out here once in a while. It's about spreading the sport and hopefully there are some locals that are seeing a really high level of water polo being played for the very first time. That's what it's all about having it back here; it's about getting that name recognition out there for water polo and really growing the sport."
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