Waves Battle #5 Trojans Close in 13-11 Defeat

Saturday, October 22

Malibu, Calif.

12:00 p.m. PT

Pepperdine University

12-11

USC

14-5

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Southern California	6	2	2	3	13
Pepperdine	5	2	1	3	11

Sandor Gal

Photo by: Charlie Blake

10/22/2022 2:47:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery

By: by Athletic Communications

MALIBU, California – The #9 Pepperdine and #5 USC men's water polo teams were locked in a close battle on Saturday at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool, with the Trojans eventually coming away with a 13-11 non-conference win.

Through a high-scoring first half, the game was tied at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6 and 7-7 before the Trojans (14-5) finally took the game's first two-goal lead in the third quarter against the Waves (12-11).

BIG WAVES

Graduate attacker Dennis Blyashov (Carlsbad, Calif./Harvard) had two goals and two assists.
Freshman attackers Adam Csapo (Budapest, Hungary) and Sandor Gal (Budapest, Hungary) both had two goals and an assist.
Sophomore center Matty Walsh (Laguna Beach, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic HS) had his first two-goal game of the season.

GAME RECAP

Pepperdine had a total of three one-goal leads during the first quarter, the first one coming a 2-1 after a Csapo tally. The Waves' final lead came at 4-3 after a Walsh score. The high-scoring first quarter ended 6-5 in USC's favor. The last tie of the contest came at 7-7 with 5:44 left in the second quarter after a 6-on-5 goal by junior attacker Christian Hosea (San Clements, Calif./San Clemente HS). Both teams went five minutes without scoring, but USC tacked one on right before halftime to go into the break with an 8-7 lead.

Both teams again went more than five minutes without scoring at the start of the third quarter, but USC eventually took the first two-goal lead of the game with 2:27 left. The teams traded goals into the fourth quarter, and it was a one-goal game at 11-10 with 5:59 left after goal by junior center defender Nico Tierney (Sierra Madre, Calif./Harvard-Westlake HS).

But, USC would score with 3:44 left and 2:14 left to go up by three goals for the first time at 13-10, and the Waves were stuck on 10 until 37 seconds remained and Blyashov scored on a penalty shot.

USC 6-2-2-3---13
PEPP 5-2-1-3---11
Pepperdine goals: Dennis Blyashov 2, Adam Csapo 2, Sandor Gal 2, Matty Walsh 2, Christian Hosea 1, Austin Smit 1, Nico Tierney 1.

QUOTABLE

Pepperdine Coach Terry Schroeder said: "Both teams tightened things up defensively and did a better job the last three quarters. Zach (Cwiertnia) came in did a good job. Our offense just stalled a bit as they were putting pressure on us. We didn't respond as well, and didn't get opportunities like we did earlier in the game."

UP NEXT

Pepperdine has three more Golden Coast Conference games left to close out the regular season. Next Sunday (Oct. 30), the Waves will host #6 Long Beach State at noon. That will be followed by the Alumni game at 1:30 p.m.