Stockton, CA - Stanford returns to the top of men's college water polo as they win the 2019 Division I Championship by defeating Pacific 13-8 in front of a sold out crowd at the University of the Pacific. The title is the 11th in program history and breaks a 16 year title drought with their last one coming in 2002. AJ Rossman and Ben Hallock each scored three goals to power the Stanford offense while Andrew Chun picked up 5 saves in the cage.
Looking to avenge last year's loss in the final Stanford came storming out of the gates to build a 4-1 advantage through two goals each from Rossman and Bennett Williams. Pacific answered with two goals, but Hallock and Rossman added goals of their own to give Stanford a 6-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. Stanford regained their momentum in the second quarter as they outscored Pacific 3-0 courtesy of goals from Dylan Woodhead, Tyler Abramson and Hallock as Stanford increased their lead to 9-3 at halftime.
Hallock would tack on another at the beginning of the third to push Stanford's lead to 10-3, but Pacific fought back through goals from Bogdan Djerkovic and Jeremie Cote to decrease the Stanford lead to 10-5 at the end of the third quarter. Pacific continued to try to get back into the game as Luke Pavillard fired a goal in midway through the final quarter to make it 10-6. That was as close as they got as the Cardinal closed the fourth quarter on a 3-2 run to win 13-8 and win their first NCAA Championship since 2002. Ben Hallock was named tournament MVP in the victory. Stanford went 0-for-6 on power plays and 1-for-1 on penalties while Pacific went 4-for-10 on power plays and did not attempt a penalty.
For live stats from this weekend's gamesÂ
click here. To re-watch the Championship gameÂ
click here.
All-Tournament Team
MVP: Ben Hallock - Stanford
First Team:
Luke Pavillard - Pacific
Tyler Abramson - Stanford
Engin Ege Colak - Pacific
Chris Dilworth - Pepperdine
Jacob Mercer - USC
Goalie: Nick Porter - USC
Second Team:
AJ Rossman - Stanford
Balazs Kosa - Pepperdine
Quinn Woodhead - Stanford
Jeremie Cote - Pacific
Bennett Williams - Stanford
Djordie Stanic - Pacific
Goalie: Andrew Chun - Stanford
