Nov. 5, 2005
MALIBU, Calif. - Grant Miller's steal with 1:15 remaining created a two-on-none opportunity which Doug Mann made true on to pull Pepperdine to within one at 7-6 with 70-seconds remaining in Saturday's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) water polo game against Cal in Malibu, Calif. Cal goalkeeper Nate Bennett would stop a Ben Tait shot at the final buzzer to preserve the Golden Bears' victory as Cal avenged a loss to the Waves just a week ago.
Cal (17-4, 3-1 MPSF) gained the early advantage when John Mann scored the first of three goals at the 5:05 mark of the opening frame. Pepperdine's (15-7, 1-3 MPSF) Jesse Smith would even the game at 1-1 in the final minute of the opening period with a goal in transition, as Adam Hewko fed the three-time All-American in front of the Bear's net.
The Bears would score the only two goals of the second quarter as John Mann and Brian Bacharach converted on 6-on-5 opportunities, giving Cal a 3-1 lead at the half.
In a physical battle, Pepperdine created several man-advantage situations, but would fail to score on six kick-out tries in the opening half.
Smith netted his second goal of the day just :35 into the second half, the first of three man-advantage goals for Pepperdine in the final 14-minutes of play. Cal would answer :11 later, maintaining its two-goal lead. Hewko pulled the Waves to within one at the 5:27 mark on a 6-on-5 opportunity. Pepperdine had two more chances to even the game or take the lead when a Smith shot was knocked down by Bennett but not secured as it floated into the Cal goal. But the officials said a Bear defensemen prevented the ball from breaking the plane of the goal. Moments later, a Hewko shot was knocked down in front of the Cal goal, which he recovered but his put-back attempt was stopped by Bennett who recorded 11 saves in the contest.
Cal's lead would reach three at the 4:49 mark of the fourth period when Bacharach beat Tait to the near corner giving the Bears a 6-3 lead. Matt Digges man-advantage goal at the 3:44 mark deflected off Bennett's hands and into the net. Trailing by three with 1:28 remaining, Smith scored his final goal of the day as Pepperdine's press-defense created Miller's turnover and the thrilling finish.
For the afternoon, Pepperdine converted on just three of 13 6-on-5 situations, creating the difference in the game.
Pepperdine will return to the pool tomorrow afternoon when it travels to No. 1 USC for a 1 p.m. (PDT) game against the Trojans. The Waves are the only team to hand USC a loss this season.
