Box Score vs. Chapman

Box Score vs. La Verne

LA VERNE, CALIF. - The No. 9 Pepperdine men's water polo team continued its roll through early-season non-conference play, picking up two wins at the Inland Empire Classic on Saturday. The Waves beat Chapman 24-3 in the opener and then downed host La Verne 18-4 in the afternoon.

Pepperdine is now 4-0 after picking up a pair of wins last weekend as well.

The Waves were in control from start to finish against Chapman, scoring eight straight goals to start the game and jump out to an 8-0 lead after one quarter of play. The Panthers never climbed back in it, scoring their first goal of the day midway through the second period. Chapman wouldn't get their third until 3:08 to go in the final quarter.

Seven different Waves scored multiple goals in the game, with Mark Urban (Budapest, Hungary//Diablo Valley College) leading the way with four. Spencer Lupin (Mission Viejo, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic HS), Marko Asic (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Dana Hills HS) and Cristian Bridley (Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara HS) each scored three goals for Pepperdine. The Waves were 7-for-9 in man-up opportunities and held Chapman to just 1-of-10 power-play conversions.

In the late game it was Asic who would lead the scoring attack, posting two goals in the opening period and then three more in the third quarter.

Pepperdine again held their opponent scoreless in the first quarter, jumping ahead 3-0 before taking a 7-2 lead into the half. The Waves kept upping the offensive tempo, scoring five times in the third and six times in the fourth, while again holding the Leopards scoreless in the final period.

Playing just the first half, Zack Rhodes (Palm Desert, Calif./Palm Desert HS) posted five saves in goal and Philippe Marco (Atherton, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep) had three in the second half. Marco got the start in the opener and had to make just one save against Chapman. Charles Olsen (Santa Monica, Calif./Santa Monica HS) scored three times for the Waves in the late game.

Pepperdine continues play at the Inland Empire Classic tomorrow in Redlands, when they take on the Redlands Bulldogs at 10:20 a.m. and the Claremont Mudd-Scripps Stags at 1:20 p.m.