Dec. 7, 2002
Cal Upends Queens to Reach Title Game
California defeats Queens College 14-6 and will face Stanford in NCAA title game Sunday.
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Los Angeles, CA (Dec. 7, 2002) - The University of California, Berkeley defeated Queens College New York 14-6 in the second semifinal of the 2002 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship at the Burns Recreation and Aquatics Center on the campus of Loyola Marymount University Saturday afternoon in front of 2,167.
With the win, second-seed California (20-6) will take on top-seeded Stanford (23-5) in the 2002 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship game at 1:30 p.m. Queens College (24-4) will take on UC San Diego (19-12) in the consolation game at 12 p.m.
Queens College took an early 1-0 lead on one of sophomore Michel Vieira's four goals with 4:42 remaining in the first period. Cal would score two straight, one from senior Todd Hylton and another by senior Andrew Stoddard to take their first lead of the game. Queens would tie the game 30 seconds later on another tally by Vieira.
The Bears would re-take the lead with a pair of goals at the end of the first period and the start of the second. Junior Greg Panawek scored with 21 seconds remaining in the first to take the 3-2 lead. They would add to the lead with a goal by freshman Vince Bevins at the 6:07 mark of the second period. Queens would get to within a goal when senior Istvan Baloga scored with 4:32 remaining.
California, who advances for the first time since 1995, broke open the tight game with five unanswered goals at the end of the second and start of the third periods. Junior Attila Banhidy scored two of his three goals in the stretch to put the game out of reach. They would outscore the Knights 8-2 in the second and third periods.
Stanford Advances With 10-5 Win
Junior Mike Derse scores four goals as defending champs defeat UC San Diego in the first semifinal.
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Final Box
Postgame Quotes
Los Angeles, CA (Dec. 7, 2002) - Top-seeded Stanford University had four-goals from junior Mike Derse to post a 10-5 win over fourth-seeded UC San Diego in the first semifinal of the 2002 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship in front of a crowd of 2,167 at the Burns Recreation and Aquatics Center on Saturday afternoon.
Stanford, who won the 2001 NCAA Championship, will advance to the title game to be held on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 1:30 p.m. They will take on the winner of the second semifinal between California and Queens (NY) College.
The Cardinal (23-5) jumped out to a 3-0 lead and stretched it to 5-1 with 2:28 remaining on a goal by Thomas Hopkins. Junior Mike Derse provided the offensive output in the first half, netting a hat-trick with three consecutive goals.
UCSD (19-12) would get a key goal to end the half with Travis Boettner stole a pass and broke down the left side of the pool on a rush. Boettner would feed junior Matt Ellis on a perfect centering pass. Ellis would score with 36 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 5-2 at the half.
However, that would be as close the Tritons would get as Stanford would score four unanswered through the third and fourth quarters. Derse would net his fourth and Stanford would get goals from sophomore Matt Moser, sophomore Greg Crum and freshman Peter Varellas in the stretch to put the game away.
UCSD's Matt Ellis and Brandon Borso would tally two goals each.
