The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- December 20, 1999

Rally keys UCLA's third water polo championship in five years

UCLA overcame a 4-1 deficit against Stanford to capture the National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship, 6-5, December 5 at UC San Diego.

UCLA junior Sean Kern led the comeback effort with four goals and helped the Bruins to their third championship in five years.

Stanford jumped to a 3-0 lead on a man-up goal by Andy Walburger and a two-point goal by Peter Hudnut. UCLA closed to within 4-2 by half time. Then in the third period, Kern scored twice in a span of 2:06 to tie the game. With a second remaining in the third period, the Bruins took their first lead with a goal by senior Matt Armato.

"We lost some of our intensity in the second half," said Stanford head coach Dante Dettamanti. "We had some shots, but we couldn't score when we needed a goal in the second half."

Early in the final quarter, Kern gave the Bruins their fifth unanswered goal of the game. With the score 6-5, the Cardinal had a shot on goal with six seconds remaining, but freshman goalkeeper Brandon Brooks made the save.

UCLA won its sixth water polo championship in 23 appearances and finished the season 22-3.

"All national championships are special," said Guy Baker, co-head coach for UCLA. "But the journey with this group has been fantastic."

UCLA and Stanford had met only once in a national championship game, but this year's clash was intensified by UCLA's 12-11 double-overtime win over the Cardinal November 28 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship game.

Stanford finished as the national runner-up for the second straight time and completed a 22-6 season.

UCLA advanced to the championship game by defeating Massachusetts, 14-6, and Stanford defeated host UC San Diego, 11-7. Massachusetts claimed third place with a 12-9 win over UC San Diego after scoring seven goals in the final quarter.

Kern was named most outstanding player of the tournament and Armato also was a first-team all-tournament selection for UCLA. Stanford's Nick Ellis, Brian Heifferon and Jason Skaalen, Massachusetts' Pat Kain and UC San Diego's Ross Mecham and Jonathan Samuels also were named to the first team. UCLA's Brooks and Blake Wellen, along with Massachusetts' Richard Huntley and Stanford's Hudnut, Sean Joy and Andy Walburger were second-team selections.

SEMIFINALS

Massachusetts -- 0 -- 2 -- 1 -- 3 -- 6

UCLA -- 3 -- 4 -- 0 -- 7 -- 14

Massachusetts goals: Mike Foley 2, Carlos Ramos, Pat Kain, Brook O'Neill.

UCLA goals: Sean Kern 4, Adam Wright 2, Sam Bailey 2, Matt Armato, Jeff Pfluger, Dave Parker, Andy Bailey, Blake Wellen, Brian Brown. Two-point goals: S. Bailey.

Saves: Massachusetts -- Richard Huntley 10; UCLA -- Brandon Brooks 11.

Attendance: 1,829.

Stanford -- 1 -- 3 -- 6 -- 1 -- 11

UC San Diego -- 3 -- 2 -- 2 -- 0 -- 7

Stanford goals: Jonathan Skaalen 4, Brian Heifferon 2, Andy Walburger, Pasi Dutton, Jeff Nesmith, Mark Amott, Peter Hudnut. Two-point goals: Skaalen 2.

UC San Diego goals: Jonathan Samuels 2, Jason Boettner 2, Ryan Dandy, Gordon Beh, Justin Wylie. Two-point goals: Boettner.

Saves: Stanford -- Nick Ellis 2; UC San Diego -- Glenn Busch 9.

Attendance: 1,829.

THIRD PLACE

Massachusetts -- 3 -- 0 -- 2 -- 7 -- 12

UC San Diego -- 3 -- 3 -- 2 -- 1 -- 9

Massachusetts goals: Adam Moore 3, Brook O'Neill 2, Pat Kain 2, Justin Houck, Antonia Maldonado, Timmy Troupis. Two-point goals: Moore, O'Neill.

UC San Diego goals: Ross Mecham 3, Kenny Woodruff 2, Vladimir Djapic, Jason Boettner. Two-point goals: Woodruff, Djapic.

Saves: Massachusetts -- Richard Huntley 14; UC San Diego -- Glenn Busch 7.

Attendance: 2,049.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Stanford -- 3 -- 1 -- 0 -- 1 -- 5

UCLA -- 1 -- 1 -- 3 -- 1 -- 6

Stanford goals: Peter Hudnut 2, Andy Walburger, Jeff Nesmith, Pasi Dutton. Two-point goals: Hudnut.

UCLA goals: Sean Kern 4, Adam Wright, Matt Armato.

Saves: Stanford -- Nick Ellis 5; UCLA -- Brandon Brooks 8.

Attendance: 2,049.