Pepperdine University
Santa Clara
Waves Fall to Santa Clara, 16-15
11/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The No. 9 Pepperdine Waves went down to the wire against No. 18 Santa Clara on Friday, but eventually were sunk by a late shot, falling 16-15 on the road.
The Waves scored two goals in the final 1:02 of play to even the contest at 15-15, but David Guibord scored on a back-handed shot with :10 seconds left to give the Broncos the win.
The two teams played neck-and-neck all night, with no more than two goals separating them in the contest.
Santa Clara led 7-6 at the half, but Pepperdine came back to take its first lead of the game, going up 9-8 at the 3:03 mark in the third period on a Luke Hewko (Irvine, Calif./Servite HS) score. The Broncos scored three-straight goals, however, taking an 11-10 lead into the fourth.
Trailing 15-13 late in the game, Brock Liebhardt (Fremont, Calif./Washington HS) scored with 1:02 left and then Jake Schrimpf (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic HS) scored with :18 seconds left to tie the game. Guibord would thwart the comeback, though, sending the home crowd into a frenzy with his late score.
Schrimpf led all players five goals in the game and Wesley Sherburne (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar HS) added three. Guibord was one of four players with three goals for Santa Clara.
The Waves fall to 10-12 with the loss and the Broncos move to 13-13. Pepperdine will face No. 7 Pacific on Sunday at noon in the team's regular-season finale.
No. 18 Santa Clara def. No. 9 Pepperdine, 16-15
SCU - 5 - 2 - 4 - 5
PEP - 4 - 2 - 5 - 4
PEP Scoring: Schrimpf 5, Sherburne 3, Keller 2, Beck 2, Liebhardt, Bridely, Hewko
SCU Scoring: Davis 3, Guibord 3, Raineri 3, Grant 3, Kachairo, Schaaf, McClone, Godar
PEP Saves: Rhodes 8
SCU Saves: Pritchett 8
