Nov. 9, 2003

IRVINE, Calif. -- The fifth-ranked Pepperdine Waves lost a heartbreaker to No. 8 UC Irvine, 8-7, in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men's water polo at the Anteater Aquatics Complex Sunday.

UCI's Nate White's goal with 1:48 left in the fourth quarter gave the Anteaters an 8-6 lead. Pepperdine senior Michael Hausmann scored with 1:33 remaining to cut the margin to one and with less than one minute remaining, the Waves couldn't connect as they fell, 8-7.

Pepperdine's leading scorer and two-time All-American, Jesse Smith, is still out of the lineup after having surgery last week. He is listed as questionable for the remainder of the season.

Hausmann and junior Morgan Matthies led Pepperdine (15-6, 3-4) with two goals each. Junior goalie Ben Tait recorded three saves.

The Waves host their last match of the season in Malibu on Thursday at 2 p.m. versus crosstown rival, Loyola Marymount.

Pepperdine 2 2 1 2 -- 7 UC Irvine 1 3 2 2 -- 8 Pep: Morgan Matthies 2, Michael Hausmann 2, Josh Acosta, Jordan Keitel, Doug Mann. UCI: Phil Garcia 3, Nate White 2, Dan Noon 2, Tim Hutten. Saves: Ben Tait (Pep) 3; Joe Wynne (UCI) 7.