Pepperdine University
California
Pepperdine Falls to Cal in MPSF Tournament Finale
11/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
LONG BEACH, Calif. - The Pepperdine men's water polo team closed play at the MPSF Tournament with a 14-7 loss to California.
The Waves finished sixth at the tournament after coming in as the seventh-seed. Cal was the tournament's fifth-seed. The Waves closed the season winning two of their last three MPSF regular-season games and picking up a win over UC Irvine in the conference tournament.
Pepperdine kept the game close in the early going, but the Bears pulled away late to grab fifth in the tournament with a win.
The Waves trailed 3-1 after one quarter of play, but scored two quick goals to start the second period to make it a 3-3 game. Cal was able to respond, however, with five-straight goals before the half to take an 8-3 advantage into the break.
The teams played even through the third period and then Cal outscored the Waves by two in the final quarter to seal it.
Wesley Sherburne (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar HS) kept his late-season strong play going with another impressive performance, finishing with a game-high four goals. Luke Hewko (Irvine, Calif./Servite HS) posted a multi-goal game as well, scoring a pair of goals.
Sherburne finished the season on a tear, scoring 22 goals in Pepperdine's final seven games to finish the season with 54 goals. Hewko finished the year with a team-best 55 goals.
Nicholas Carniglia led the Bears with three goals in the game. Cal had nine different players score.
Pepperdine finishes the year with an 11-15 record.
#5 California def. #7 Pepperdine, 14-7
CAL - 3 - 5 - 3 - 3
PEP - 1 - 2 - 3 - 1
CAL Scoring: Carniglia 3, Cupido 2, Rachford 2, Russell 2, Kelly, Carroll, Stellet, Mulcahy, Saponjic
PEP Scoring: Sherburne 4, Hewko 2, Keller
CAL Saves: Andric 5, Sibley 2
PEP Saves: Rhodes 12
