Oct. 5, 2009

Complete Release in PDF Format

STANFORD (9-0 overall, 1-0 MPSF) won the battle of the nation's top-two as senior Janson Wigo poured in four goals to lead the top-ranked Cardinal to an 8-6 MPSF home win Saturday over No. 2 UCLA. Stanford led 5-2 at the half. Drac Wigo added a pair of goals and goalkeeper Jimmie Sandman collected nine saves. The Cardinal takes on Princeton Saturday (Oct. 10) at 8am to open the two-day UC Irvine Invitational, and will also face either Pepperdine or the host Anteaters later on day one.

USC (11-1 overall, 3-0 MPSF) recorded a pair of MPSF road wins in Northern California, 8-6 over No. 4 California and 10-7 over No. 16 Pacific. The No. 3 Trojans raced out to a 6-1 lead by the third quarter against Cal. Justin Rappel and Kyle Sterling scored twice each and Joel Dennerley tallied 11 saves in the cage, and six more on Sunday. USC meets Bucknell at 11:10 am Saturday in Irvine, though will first host Princeton Friday (Oct. 9).

PEPPERDINE (4-6 overall, 1-1 MPSF) outlasted No. 7 Long Beach State at home Saturday, 8-7. With the game tied at 6 entering the final period, the Waves scored twice to put it away. Brett Auer posted a game-high three goals while freshman goalkeeper Tommy O'Connell tallied an '09 MPSF single-game high 15 saves. Pepperdine meets the UCI Invitational host Anteaters at 9:20 am Saturday, and could also face No. 1 Stanford later on day one.

UC SANTA BARBARA (7-3 overall, 0-0 MPSF) won its first two home games, 13-5 over Whittier and 9-8 in overtime over No. 14 Concordia (CA). Noah Smith combined for eight goals in the two wins, while Stefan Partelow added five. Freshman Evan Dellinger scored the game-winner in the second OT period against the Eagles. The Gauchos open their UCI Invitational with UC Davis Saturday at 12:30 pm.

UCLA (10-2 overall, 0-1 MPSF) split two games on its trip to Northern California, losing to top-ranked Stanford (8-6) in the MPSF and defeating No. 11 Santa Clara (11-5) in non-conference. Goalkeeper Chay Lapin totaled 19 saves while Scott Davidson posted four goals on the weekend in moving into the top-10 on the Bruins' all-time scoring list. UCLA meets Redlands at 8:30 am Saturday, followed by either Long Beach State or Navy.

CALIFORNIA (8-3 overall, 0-1 MPSF) opens up its UCI Invite with Pacific at 10:40 am, followed by a meeting with Loyola Marymount or UC San Diego in the early evening of day one. The Bears are coming off an 8-6 MPSF home loss to No. 3 USC, as Spencer Warden had a game-high three goals.

LONG BEACH STATE (4-4 overall, 0-1 MPSF) was edged at No. 8 Pepperdine last Saturday, 8-7. Taylor Clute and Alex Petrovic scored two goals apiece. The 49ers take on Navy at 9:50 am Saturday, with a potential matchup against UCLA later that day.

PACIFIC (10-6 overall, 0-1 MPSF) dropped a 10-7 MPSF home decision to No. 3 USC Sunday, as goalkeeper David Andrus tallied 11 saves. The Tigers face California at 10:40 am Saturday, as well as either LMU or UCSD on day one of the UCI Invite.

UC IRVINE (6-4 overall, 0-0 MPSF) is coming off a bye week and hosts the UC Irvine Invitational this weekend (Oct. 10-11). The Anteaters take on Pepperdine at 9:20 am Saturday, with the possibility of facing No. 1 Stanford later in the day. UCI won the first meeting over the Waves (9-6) at the NorCal Tournament on Sept. 20.

WIGO AND O'CONNELL MPSF MIKASA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Stanford senior utility Janson Wigo (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Northeast HS) scored a game-high four goals, including one with less than two minutes to play in regulation, lifting the No. 1 Cardinal to an 8-6 win over No. 2 UCLA in a battle of the nation's top-two. Wigo was also a factor on defense, picking up two steals on Bruin power plays, one of which led directly to a Stanford goal in the second quarter.

Pepperdine true freshman goalkeeper Thomas O'Connell (Trabuco Canyon, CA/El Toro HS) recorded a 2009 MPSF single-game high 15 saves as the No. 8 Waves edged No. 7 Long Beach State, 8-7. Tied at 6 after three quarters, he allowed just one fourth period goal in helping Pepperdine to its first conference win.

Also Nominated: Joel Dennerley (USC), Scott Davidson (UCLA), Spencer Warden (CAL)