Stanford is the 2019 NC men's water polo champion after a 13-8 win over Pacific in the national championship match on Sunday, Dec. 8.
The Cardinal scored six first-quarter goals to open up an early lead and never trailed Pacific in the title match, hosted at University of the Pacific's Chris Kjeldsen Pool in Stockton, California. AJ Rossman and Ben Hallock guided the way with three goals apiece, while Tyler Abramson, Bennett Williams and Parker Killion each added two to Stanford's scoring attack.
2019 CHAMPIONSHIP: Final interactive bracket | Printable bracket | Tournament selections
The 2019 national championship win marks Stanford's 11th title in program history, and its first since 2002.
To get to Sunday's finals, Stanford needed three overtimes to outlast Southern California 15-14. Pacific knocked off Pepperdine at 17-13 on the opposite side of the bracket to set up the final.
Stanford earned a place in the national championship behind some late-game heroics from Quinn Woodhead. The senior scored his fifth goal of the match with 19 seconds remaining in the second extra period, pulling the Cardinal to an even 14-14 mark. Then, just 11 seconds into triple overtime, Woodhead registered his team-high seventh point when he fed Spencer Hanson for the game-winning goal.
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Pacific's offense proved to be too much for the Waves in the other semifinal. Pacific trailed 4-3 after the first quarter before outscoring Pepperdine 14-9 the rest of the way. Senior Luke Pavillard led all scorers with eight total points (five goals) while freshman Djordje Stanic added another seven (four goals). The Tigers will play in the program's second-ever national championship game, trying to win it for the first time.
Here is your one-stop-shop to the tournament where you can find the bracket, schedule, scores and latest tournament updates.
2019 NC men's water polo championship: Schedule, scores
Here is the round-by-round schedule and results from the 2019 NC men's water polo championship.
OPENING ROUND (Saturday, Nov. 30)
OPENING ROUND (Thursday, Dec. 5)
SEMIFINALS (Saturday, Dec. 7)
CHAMPIONSHIP (Sunday, Dec. 8)
2019 NC men's water polo championship: Bracket
Click here to expand the 2019 tournament bracket.
2019 NC men's water polo championship: History
| YEAR | CHAMPION (RECORD) | COACH | SCORE | RUNNER-UP | SITE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Stanford (21-2) | John Vargas | 13-8 | Pacific | Stockton, Calif. |
| 2018 | Southern California (29-3) | Jovan Vavic | 14-12 | Stanford | Palo Alto, Calif. |
| 2017 | UCLA (21-4) | Adam Wright | 7-5 | Southern California | Los Angeles, Calif. |
| 2016 | California (22-4) | Kirk Everist | 11-8 (ot) | Southern California | Berkeley, Calif. |
| 2015 | UCLA (30-0) | Adam Wright | 10-7 | Southern California | Los Angeles, Calif. |
| 2014 | UCLA (29-3) | Adam Wright | 9-8 | Southern California | La Jolla, Calif. |
| 2013 | Southern California (28-4) | Jovan Vavic | 12-11 (2ot) | Pacific | Palo Alto, Calif. |
| 2012 | Southern California (29-0) | Jovan Vavic | 11-10 | UCLA | Los Angeles, Calif. |
| 2011 | Southern California (24-3) | Jovan Vavic | 7-4 | UCLA | California |
| 2010 | Southern California (28-2) | Jovan Vavic | 12-10 (2ot) | California | California |
| 2009 | Southern California (26-2) | Jovan Vavic | 7-6 | UCLA | Princeton |
| 2008 | Southern California (29-0) | Jovan Vavic | 7-5 | Stanford | Stanford |
| 2007 | California (28-4) | Kirk Everist | 8-6 | Southern California | Stanford |
| 2006 | California (31-4) | Kirk Everist | 7-6 | Southern California | Loyola Marymount |
| 2005 | Southern California (26-1) | Jovan Vavic | 3-2 | Stanford | Bucknell |
| 2004 | UCLA (25-3) | Adam Krikorian | 10-9 (ot) | Stanford | Stanford |
| 2003 | Southern California (24-3) | Jovan Vavic | 9-7(ot) | Stanford | Stanford |
| 2002 | Stanford (24-5) | John Vargas | 7-6 | California | Loyola Marymount |
| 2001 | Stanford (22-1) | Dante Dettamanti | 8-5 | UCLA | Stanford |
| 2000 | UCLA (19-7) | Guy Baker/Adam Krikorian | 11-2 | UC San Diego | Malibu, Calif. |
| 1999 | UCLA (22-3) | Guy Baker/Adam Krikorian | 6-5 | Stanford | La Jolla, Calif. |
| 1998 | Southern California (25-3) | John Williams/Jovan Vavic | 9-8 (2ot) | Stanford | Newport Beach, Calif. |
| 1997 | Pepperdine (25-3) | Terry Schoroeder | 8-7 (2ot) | Southern California | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
| 1996 | UCLA (24-6) | Guy Baker | 8-7 | Southern California | UC San Diego |
| 1995 | UCLA (20-6) | Guy Baker | 10-8 | California | Stanford |
| 1994 | Stanford (27-1) | Dante Dettamanti | 14-10 | Southern California | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1993 | Stanford (24-6) | Dante Dettamanti | 11-9 | Southern California | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1992 | California (31-0) | Steve Heaston | 12-11 (3ot) | Stanford | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1991 | California (26-1) | Steve Heaston | 7-6 | UCLA | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1990 | California (29-1) | Steve Heaston | 8-7 | Stanford | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1989 | UC Irvine (27-6) | Ted Newland | 9-8 | California | Indianapolis |
| 1988 | California (33-3) | Pete Cutino | 14-11 | UCLA | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1987 | California (27-3) | Pete Cutino | 9-8 (ot) | Southern California | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1986 | Stanford (36-0) | Dante Dettamanti | 9-6 | California | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1985 | Stanford (25-4) | Dante Dettamanti | 12-11 (2ot) | UC Irvine | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1984 | California (26-4-1) | Pete Cutino | 9-8 | Stanford | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1983 | California (29-3-2) | Pete Cutino | 10-7 | Southern California | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1982 | UC Irvine (30-0) | Ted Newland | 7-4 | Stanford | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1981 | Stanford (31-0) | Dante Dettamanti | 17-6 | Long Beach State | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1980 | Stanford (28-2-1) | Dante Dettamanti | 8-6 | California | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1979 | UC Santa Barbara (27-2-1) | Pete Snyder | 11-3 | UCLA | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1978 | Stanford (26-1-1) | Dante Dettamanti | 7-6 (3ot) | California | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1977 | California (29-3) | Pete Cutino | 9-6 | UC Irvine | Brown |
| 1976 | Stanford (20-2) | Art Lambert | 13-12 | UCLA | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1975 | California (22-6) | Pete Cutino | 9-8 | UC Irvine | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1974 | California (25-2) | Pete Cutino | 7-6 | UC Irvine | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1973 | California (25-1) | Pete Cutino | 8-4 | UC Irvine | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1972 | UCLA (19-1) | Bob Horn | 10-5 | UC Irvine | New Mexico |
| 1971 | UCLA (18-1) | Bob Horn | 5-3 | San Jose State | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1970 | UC Irvine (27-2) | Ted Newland | 7-6 (3ot) | UCLA | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1969 | UCLA (19-0) | Bob Horn | 5-2 | California | Long Beach, Calif. |
Note: From 1969 through 1994, the championship was composed of eight teams. Since 1995, the championship has been composed of four teams.
