Stanford Ends UCLA’s Title Run in Water Polo

Top-ranked Stanford ended UCLA’s two-year reign as NCAA men’s water polo champion, defeating the Bruins, 8-5, in the final Sunday in front of 2,226 at Palo Alto.

Tony Azevedo, Brian Darrow and Onno Koelman each scored twice to lead Stanford (22-1).

Alfonso Tucay and Brett Ormsby each scored twice for UCLA (16-5).

It was the final game for Stanford Coach Dante Dettamanti, who is retiring after 25 seasons with the Cardinal.

He has a career record of 666-208-6 and won eight NCAA titles, tied for most with Cal’s Pete Cutino.

Loyola Marymount (15-14) defeated Massachusetts, 14-6, in the third-place game.

Tennis

French captain Guy Forget was thrilled with his team’s Davis Cup championship, although he would have preferred a celebration on the other side of the world.

“When you play at home, you dream about winning,” Forget said. “All your family and friends are there.”

Not many were there Sunday, but the French beat Australia, 3-2, to avenge a loss in the finals two years ago in Nice.

The loss was the second straight in the final for Australia, beaten last year by Spain.

Golf

Sergio Garcia made a 20-foot chip shot on the first playoff hole to defeat Ernie Els and win the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, South Africa.

Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal birdied the final three holes for a seven-under 64 to win the $700,000 Hong Kong Open by a stroke.

Olazabal, a two-time Masters champion, finished at 22-under 262.

Raymond and Robert Floyd rallied from four shots behind first-round leaders Hale and Steve Irwin under the scramble format to win the Father-Son Challenge at Paradise Island, Bahamas.

The Floyds had an 11-under 61 for a two-round total of 124. The Irwins had a 66 after an opening-round 59.

Pat Perez had a birdie-eagle start and finished with a 65, putting him at 333 and two strokes in the lead in the PGA Tour qualifying tournament at West Palm Beach, Fla.

Ty Tryon, 17, had a two-under 70 and is in a tie for 50th place, three strokes behind the cut line. Tryon is trying to become the youngest player to earn a tour card.

The top 35 and ties after today’s final round receive tour cards.

Soccer

FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, announced that the food, drink and medication for all players and coaches will be tested for anthrax and other poisons in next summer’s World Cup at Japan and South Korea.

FIFA also said there may be no-fly zones over training grounds and stadiums.

One of Italy’s top players, striker Filippo Inzaghi of AC Milan, will be sidelined for more than a month after injuring his left knee during his team’s 3-2 victory over Chievo on Sunday.

Inzaghi, a likely World Cup starter for Italy, will undergo tests today to determine the extent of the damage.

Argentine already has suffered a worse blow, losing potential Cup striker Martin Palermo, who broke his ankle and will be sidelined for six months.

Palermo was injured when a retaining wall collapsed on top of him while he celebrated an overtime goal on Wednesday.

Three-time World Cup winner Germany announced it will play the United States in a friendly game at Rostock on March 27.

Volleyball

Long Beach State, undefeated and top-ranked in the nation, will host one of four NCAA women’s regionals beginning Thursday night at the Pyramid.

The 49ers (30-0) will play Northern Iowa in a semifinal and UCLA (28-5) will play Hawaii. USC also will host a regional beginning Thursday.

The Trojans (24-3) will play Ohio State after the Pacific-Arizona match .

Pepperdine (23-3) will play in a regional at Lincoln, Neb.

The Waves will play Florida and the winner will play Colorado State or defending NCAA champion Nebraska in the regional final Friday.

Golden West defeated Orange Coast College, 30-15, 30-20, 30-21, to win its ninth consecutive women’s junior college state title.

Miscellany

Todd Lodwick of Steamboat Springs, Colo., won a World Cup Nordic combined event after a solid cross-country ski race at Beitostolen, Norway.... Germany’s Sabine Voelker set a world record of 1:14.06 to win the women’s 1,000 meters in a World Cup competition at Kearns, Utah.... Todd Hays of Del Rio, Texas, finished second to Germany’s Christoph Langen in a four-man bobsled World Cup event at Winterberg, Germany, but retained his lead in the overall standings with 98 points.