BERKELEY, California – Nicholas Fichman scored four goals for the #12 Pepperdine men's water polo team, but #8 Pacific was more proficient on the powerplay as the Tigers won 20-15 in Friday's opening game of the MPSF Invitational.
The Waves (5-6) were just 1-for-8 on 6-on-5s, while the Tigers (4-4) went 8-for-15.
BIG WAVES
- Senior center Nicholas Fichman (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Golden West College) tied his season and career highs with his four-goal output.
- Senior utility Sean Ferrari (Redwood City, Calif./St. Francis HS) and sophomore Nico Tierney (Sierra Madre, Calif./Harvard-Westlake HS) both scored twice.
GAME RECAP
Things got off to a good start as senior goalie
John Claude Marco (Atherton, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep) saved a penalty shot and junior utility
Kaden Kaneko (Huntington Beach, Calif./Mater Dei HS) opened the scoring, but that would turn out to be Pepperdine's only lead. The Waves came from behind to tie the game at three, four, five and seven, but Pacific went into the halftime break with a 9-8 lead. It was still just a two-goal game at 14-12 after three quarters, but Pacific outscored Pepperdine 6-3 in the final period.
PAC 3-6-5-6---20
PEPP 2-6-4-3---15
Pepperdine goals: Nicholas Fichman 4,
Sean Ferrari 2,
Nico Tierney 2,
Christian Hosea 1,
Jake Howerton 1,
Clay Kaneko 1,
Kaden Kaneko 1,
Balazs Kosa 1,
Travis Reynolds 1,
Kyle Thomas 1.
UP NEXT
The Waves have dropped into the consolation rounds and will play twice on Saturday at California's Legends Aquatic Center. Pepperdine will face #18 Pomona-Pitzer at 9:20 a.m. and #11 San Jose State at 1:20 p.m.
