Game 1 Highlights | Game 2 Highlights

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. - The No. 9 Pepperdine men's water polo team opened the 2015 SoCal Invitational with a split on Saturday, narrowly falling to No. 8 UC Irvine, 13-12, and then picking up a win over Pomona-Pitzer 15-7.

The Waves nearly missed the comeback in the opener, fighting back from a five-point deficit to make it a one-goal game in the final minute.

UC Irvine jumped out to a 6-2 lead after one quarter of play and after the teams played even in the second quarter, Pepperdine trailed 9-5 at the half. The Anteaters went up by five in the third quarter, but Luke Hewko (Irvine, Calif./Servite HS) scored with just seconds left in the period to keep it a four-goal game at 12-8.

The teams traded goals to open the fourth quarter before Pepperdine went on a run. Mark Urban (Budapest, Hungary//Diablo Valley College) and Marko Madaras (Eger, Hungary//Golden West College) scored back-to-back goals to make it 13-11 and then with 3:32 left, Sean Thomas (Covina, Calif./Loyola HS) made it 13-12.

The Waves had several chances down the stretch, but just couldn't get the equalizing goal. Pepperdine had one final possession and with three seconds to go Madaras fired off a backhand shot that just went wide.

The Waves outscored UCI 4-1 in the final quarter.

In the late game, Pepperdine grabbed an early lead, going up 3-2 in the opening quarter and then put up seven goals in the second quarter to take a 10-3 lead into the half. Six different players scored in the quarter for Pepperdine and the Waves held Pomona to just one goal.

The Waves held on in the second half, outscoring the Sagehens 3-2 in the fourth quarter.

Five different Pepperdine players recorded multiple goals in the game and a total of 10 different players scored. Zack Rhodes (Palm Desert, Calif./Palm Desert HS) had nine saves in the first half and then Philippe Marco (Atherton, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep) came in and posted seven saves in the second half for the Waves.

Pepperdine continues tournament play tomorrow at 10:40 am. The Waves will compete at LMU tomorrow.

UC Irvine def. Pepperdine, 13-12
UCI - 6 - 3 - 3 - 1 - 13
PEP - 2 - 3 - 3 - 4 - 12

UCI Scoring: Milos 4, Trush 3, Warde 2, Pfeil, Osborne, Duffy, Papa
PEP Scoring: Madaras 4, Sherburne 3, Dilworth 3, Urban, Thomas

UCI Saves: Bailey 5
PEP Saves: Rhodes 10, Marco 2

Pepperdine def. Pomona-Pitzer, 15-7
PEP - 3 - 7 - 2 - 3 - 15
POM - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 7

PEP Scoring: Sherburne 2, Olsen 2, Asic 2, Urban 2, Bridley 2, Madaras, Cowan, Hewko, Thomas, Lupin
POM Scoring: Baker 3, Hardman 2, Lanker, Clayman

PEP Saves: Rhodes 9, Marco 7
POM Saves: Diemer 8