Hall of Fame
Senior driver Andy Bruininga scored the game-winning goal with 44 seconds remaining in the second overtime period to lift Pepperdine to its first-ever NCAA water polo championship, as the Waves edged local rival USC by a final score of 8-7 on December 7, 1997, at the International Swimming Hall of Fame Aquatics Complex in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Making its first appearance at the NCAA Championships since 1994 and its 12th overall, Pepperdine completed its dream season with a sparkling 25-3 record.
The championship was closely contested from the outset. Following a scoreless first period, USC junior driver Marko Pintaric scored the game’s first goal at the 6:16 mark of the second quarter. Pepperdine countered with a goal by senior driver Brian McCallister with 4:45 remaining in the period, but Pintaric gave USC a 2-1 lead when he scored again just 35 seconds later.
Pepperdine took a 3-2 halftime advantage following goals by junior two-meter man Jeremy Pope and junior driver Christian Jensen.
USC quickly tied the game at 3-3 on a goal by senior driver Mateo Juric at the 4:30 mark of the third quarter. Senior holeman Alan Herrmann and sophomore two-meter man Chris Tilden scored goals within a 17-second span late in the period, helping Pepperdine take a 6-4 advantage into the fourth quarter.
USC rallied late in the contest, and tied the game at 6-6 on a goal by senior driver Simun Cimerman with just eight seconds to play in regulation.
The Waves struck early in the first three-minute overtime period, scoring at the 2:15 mark, but USC tied the contest with 1:23 left in the second overtime period, setting the stage for Bruininga’s game-clinching goal.
“Confidence took over in the overtime,” Pepperdine Coach Terry Schroeder said. “We had great team chemistry all year and stepped up and answered every challenge.”
As one of the greatest players in college history, Schroeder led Pepperdine to three fourth-place finishes, but in his 12th season as head coach, he led Pepperdine to its first title.
“I loved the post-game swim (when the team threw him in the pool in celebration),” Schroeder said. “I am proud of the guys — they put so much into this effort all year. This is the best bunch of guys we have had at Pepperdine. We all felt so close. It was the best way to end the season — all together in the water celebrating.”
Herrmann, Pope and junior goalie Merrill Moses were named the tri-Most Valuable Players of the NCAA Championships.
“The team really wanted to win the championship for Coach Schroeder, and he has been waiting for a long time,” Bruininga said. “Scoring the game-winning goal was neat, but I also want to acknowledge and reward the great pass from Jeremy Pope. It was our team effort that did it.”
Pepperdine outscored its opponents by a commanding 283-152 margin during the 1997 season, as the Waves averaged 10.11 points a contest and limited opponents to just 5.43 points a game.
Pope led the Waves in scoring, registering 54 goals, including four two-point goals, for 58 total points. Herrmann collected 51 goals, while senior driver Jack Kocur added 39 goals and a team-best total of seven two-point goals for 46 total points.
Moses capped an outstanding season in the net with an impressive 4.64 goals-against average, allowing just 116 goals in 25 games while recording 207 saves.
Herrmann, Kocur, Moses and Pope each were named All-American first teamers by U.S. Water Polo, marking the first time four Pepperdine players earned that distinction in the same year. Schroeder was tabbed the national Coach of the Year by U.S. Water Polo.
