Saturday, October 16
Malibu, Calif.
11:00 a.m. PT
Pepperdine University
vs
UC Irvine
Michael Dakis
Photo by: Jeff Golden
#9 Waves Entertain #14 UCI on Saturday
10/13/2021 12:32:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
MALIBU, California — Golden Coast Conference play gets underway this weekend when the #9 Pepperdine men's water polo team hosts #14 UC Irvine. It's one of just two home games left on the schedule for the Waves, who have won six in a row.
GAME #20 — Saturday (Oct. 16) at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool in Malibu, Calif.: #9 Pepperdine (12-7, 0-0) vs. #14 UC Irvine (7-7, 0-0) at 11 a.m. (the annual Alumni Game follows at 12:30 p.m.)
WATCH/ONLINE — Saturday's game will be webstreamed via WaveCasts. Links to broadcasts and live stats will be available at PepperdineWaves.com.
TICKETS — Tickets to all Pepperdine home men's water polo games in 2021 will be available via e-ticket ONLY. Patrons must purchase tickets to any event prior to arriving on campus. Individuals without tickets to an event will not be allowed on campus. Pepperdine faculty, staff and students must show Pepperdine ID card for entry — no ticket purchase is required. To purchase e-tickets and read the spectator guidelines, visit: https://gowav.es/WavesTix. Due to campus construction, nearby parking may be limited and guests are advised to arrive early. There is also limited bleacher seating and fans may choose to bring chairs or blankets to sit on the hillside above the pool.
OPPONENT — Pepperdine is 54-68-1 all-time against UC Irvine. The Waves have won four in a row and seven of the last nine, including an 18-10 victory at the MPSF Invitational a few weeks ago. The 18 goals were the most scored by either team in the history of the rivalry. The eight-goal margin of victory was Pepperdine's biggest in the series since 2001.
LAST WEEK — The Waves won twice at the Lancer Joust Tournament in Riverside, edging host and #19 California Baptist 9-7 before routing Concordia 19-5. The Waves and Lancers were tied six times, last at 7-7 in the fourth quarter. Balazs Kosa scored to put the Waves up, and the Waves' defense held the rest of the way, including a John Claude Marco block of a penalty shot with 38 seconds remaining. Kosa put his fourth goal of the game into an empty net as time expired. Later that afternoon, 14 different Waves scored, including three by Zach Arthur, in the win over the Eagles.
HONORS — Jake Howerton was named GCC Player of the Week on October 7. He had 11 goals in three victories, including a career-high five goals in the win against #2 California.
MILESTONES & MOMENTS — Pepperdine's 16-14 home win over #2 California on October 3 was the program's first over a top-two ranked team since 2008 (#2 Stanford) .. On September 18 against Princeton, Balazs Kosa became the 12th Wave ever to record 200 goals ... On September 16 against UC Santa Barbara, Sean Ferrari became the 43rd Wave to hit the century mark in career goals.
GCC STATS — Balasz Kosa is tied for first in assists (31), second in points (63) and tied for eighth in goals (32) ... Sean Ferrari is fifth in assists (23) and seventh in points (53) ... Nico Tierney is eighth in assists (19) and 10th in points (46) ... Kyle Thomas is ninth in assists (18) ... John Claude Marco is third in saves (140).
KOSA — Senior attacker Balazs Kosa is putting together one of the best careers in Pepperdine history. He's a three-time All-American, making the third team in 2018, the second team in 2019 and the first team in 2020-21. He led the country in scoring during the abbreviated spring 2021 season, scoring 39 times in 14 games. He scored 93 goals in the full 2019 season. Kosa ranks ninth all-time at Pepperdine with 217 career goals.
WATER POLO HISTORY — Pepperdine won the NCAA title in 1997. That was the last time a school other than California, Stanford, UCLA or USC won the championship. The Waves' exceptional water polo history also includes 12 conference titles, a top-10 ranking in 44 of the last 45 years, and a top-five finish 21 times. Pepperdine has had 59 players earn All-American honors a total of 106 times. Three Waves — Mike Grier (1984), Geoffrey Clark (1991) and Alan Herrmann (1997) — were named the national player of the year. Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool hosted the 1984 Olympic water polo competition and the 2000 NCAA Championships.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY — Pepperdine boasts a one-of-a-kind athletic department with unprecedented success for a school of its size. The Waves have won NCAA Division I championships in five different men's sports — one of just 18 schools to have accomplished this feat — and 10 overall. Of this elite group, Pepperdine has the smallest undergraduate enrollment, is the only school without football and is the only university that has not been affiliated with a "major" conference. The Waves have won a total of 26 team or individual national championships in their history. Pepperdine has also earned the Division I-AAA All-Sports Trophy, an award based on postseason success that's given to the top non-football school, three times (most recently in 2011-12). Located in scenic Malibu, California, the university overlooks the Pacific Ocean and its campus and athletic facilities are regularly voted among the nation's most beautiful. Pepperdine, which is affiliated with the Church of Christ, ranks #49 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.
GAME #20 — Saturday (Oct. 16) at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool in Malibu, Calif.: #9 Pepperdine (12-7, 0-0) vs. #14 UC Irvine (7-7, 0-0) at 11 a.m. (the annual Alumni Game follows at 12:30 p.m.)
WATCH/ONLINE — Saturday's game will be webstreamed via WaveCasts. Links to broadcasts and live stats will be available at PepperdineWaves.com.
TICKETS — Tickets to all Pepperdine home men's water polo games in 2021 will be available via e-ticket ONLY. Patrons must purchase tickets to any event prior to arriving on campus. Individuals without tickets to an event will not be allowed on campus. Pepperdine faculty, staff and students must show Pepperdine ID card for entry — no ticket purchase is required. To purchase e-tickets and read the spectator guidelines, visit: https://gowav.es/WavesTix. Due to campus construction, nearby parking may be limited and guests are advised to arrive early. There is also limited bleacher seating and fans may choose to bring chairs or blankets to sit on the hillside above the pool.
OPPONENT — Pepperdine is 54-68-1 all-time against UC Irvine. The Waves have won four in a row and seven of the last nine, including an 18-10 victory at the MPSF Invitational a few weeks ago. The 18 goals were the most scored by either team in the history of the rivalry. The eight-goal margin of victory was Pepperdine's biggest in the series since 2001.
LAST WEEK — The Waves won twice at the Lancer Joust Tournament in Riverside, edging host and #19 California Baptist 9-7 before routing Concordia 19-5. The Waves and Lancers were tied six times, last at 7-7 in the fourth quarter. Balazs Kosa scored to put the Waves up, and the Waves' defense held the rest of the way, including a John Claude Marco block of a penalty shot with 38 seconds remaining. Kosa put his fourth goal of the game into an empty net as time expired. Later that afternoon, 14 different Waves scored, including three by Zach Arthur, in the win over the Eagles.
HONORS — Jake Howerton was named GCC Player of the Week on October 7. He had 11 goals in three victories, including a career-high five goals in the win against #2 California.
MILESTONES & MOMENTS — Pepperdine's 16-14 home win over #2 California on October 3 was the program's first over a top-two ranked team since 2008 (#2 Stanford) .. On September 18 against Princeton, Balazs Kosa became the 12th Wave ever to record 200 goals ... On September 16 against UC Santa Barbara, Sean Ferrari became the 43rd Wave to hit the century mark in career goals.
GCC STATS — Balasz Kosa is tied for first in assists (31), second in points (63) and tied for eighth in goals (32) ... Sean Ferrari is fifth in assists (23) and seventh in points (53) ... Nico Tierney is eighth in assists (19) and 10th in points (46) ... Kyle Thomas is ninth in assists (18) ... John Claude Marco is third in saves (140).
KOSA — Senior attacker Balazs Kosa is putting together one of the best careers in Pepperdine history. He's a three-time All-American, making the third team in 2018, the second team in 2019 and the first team in 2020-21. He led the country in scoring during the abbreviated spring 2021 season, scoring 39 times in 14 games. He scored 93 goals in the full 2019 season. Kosa ranks ninth all-time at Pepperdine with 217 career goals.
WATER POLO HISTORY — Pepperdine won the NCAA title in 1997. That was the last time a school other than California, Stanford, UCLA or USC won the championship. The Waves' exceptional water polo history also includes 12 conference titles, a top-10 ranking in 44 of the last 45 years, and a top-five finish 21 times. Pepperdine has had 59 players earn All-American honors a total of 106 times. Three Waves — Mike Grier (1984), Geoffrey Clark (1991) and Alan Herrmann (1997) — were named the national player of the year. Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool hosted the 1984 Olympic water polo competition and the 2000 NCAA Championships.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY — Pepperdine boasts a one-of-a-kind athletic department with unprecedented success for a school of its size. The Waves have won NCAA Division I championships in five different men's sports — one of just 18 schools to have accomplished this feat — and 10 overall. Of this elite group, Pepperdine has the smallest undergraduate enrollment, is the only school without football and is the only university that has not been affiliated with a "major" conference. The Waves have won a total of 26 team or individual national championships in their history. Pepperdine has also earned the Division I-AAA All-Sports Trophy, an award based on postseason success that's given to the top non-football school, three times (most recently in 2011-12). Located in scenic Malibu, California, the university overlooks the Pacific Ocean and its campus and athletic facilities are regularly voted among the nation's most beautiful. Pepperdine, which is affiliated with the Church of Christ, ranks #49 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.
Players Mentioned
UT
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK/UT
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
GK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
CD
/ Men's Water Polo
