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Pepperdine University Athletics

Water Polo Bench Celebration
Mia Pleasant
10
UC Irvine UCI (14-9,2-2)
12
Winner Pepperdine PEP (12-10,1-3)
UC Irvine UCI
(14-9,2-2)
10
Final
12
Pepperdine PEP
(12-10,1-3)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
UC Irvine UCI 2 3 2 3 10
Pepperdine PEP 3 3 2 4 12

Game Recap: Men's Water Polo |

No. 13 Water Polo Downs No. 15 UC Irvine, 12-10

MALIBU, Calif. — No. 13 Pepperdine water polo (13-10, 1-3 WCC) took down No. 15 UC Irvine (14-10, 2-2 Big West) by a score of 12-10 from Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool on Saturday afternoon. 

The Waves scored three straight goals to secure the win in the final three minutes after the game was knotted at nine with three minutes to play. Matty Walsh netted the first of the game-winning run before Owen Tift added a cushion and Max Smirnov scored his first of the season on the empty cage to put the game to rest.

Pepperdine was led by Erik Ionescu and Jon Carcarey, who each scored three goals with an assist and steal. Walsh and Sandor Gal also recorded multiple goals for the Waves while Smirnov was strong in the cage with 10 saves.

"I'm very proud of how the team played today," said head coach Merrill Moses. "We have been focusing on defense all week and it is a good sign to hold a team to only 10 goals. The atmosphere at the pool was amazing today and it was great to see so many fans in the stands and also have a tremendous amount of alumni there supporting the team on alumni day."

UC Irvine got the scoring started with a power play goal on their first possession, as both first period goals from the road side came with the man advantage. The Waves jumped out to leads of 2-1 and 3-2 with Ionescu netting a pair of early goals, including a five-meter penalty which gave the Waves a 3-2 lead after one.

After the Anteaters tied the game at three, Ionescu notched his hat trick with 5:49 remaining in the first half to put the Waves back ahead. Goals from Carcarey and Gal extended the Pepperdine lead, as Gal put home a five-meter penalty attempt which put Pepperdine ahead 6-4. UC Irvine got one back with four seconds left in the half, as the Waves took a one-goal advantage into halftime.

The Waves came out with an immediate goal in the second half, as Walsh netted his first of the contest. After a Carcarey goal put Pepperdine ahead 8-7 with 4:19 to play in the third, both teams would go scoreless for the next 6:32 of gametime as the narrow game dwindled down to the final minutes.

UCI then scored a power play goal and five-meter goal with Carcarey netting his third in between, bringing the score to 9-9 within the final three minutes. With the game on the line, the Waves quickly converted on a six-on-five as Dane Howell fed Walsh for the go-ahead goal with 2:43 remaining.

The Waves got a pair of stops as the Anteaters looked to tie the game, with Owen Tift notching his first goal of the game with 50 seconds remaining to put Pepperdine ahead 11-9. With UCI going to a seven-on-six to attempt a comeback, Smirnov made a save and then launched his first career goal to put the Waves ahead by three. The Anteaters brought the final score to 12-10 with a last second tally.

Game Notes
  • Jon Carcarey scored three goals to go along with an assist and steal.
  • Carcarey has found the back of the net in eight of nine contests.
  • Erik Ionescu deposited three first half goals and added an assist.
  • Matty Walsh drew a game-high four exclusions while scoring two goals.
  • Walsh has scored multiple goals in seven straight games.
  • Sandor Gal netted a pair of goals while dishing out an assist.
  • Max Smirnov made 10 saves to earn the win in the cage while scoring his first career goal.
  • Owen Tift tallied his 19th goal of the season.
  • The Waves improved to 5-2 at home this season.
  • Pepperdine has collected eight wins over ranked opponents this season.
Pepperdine will return tomorrow to take on Cal State Fullerton at home, with gametime set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

ABOUT PEPPERDINE WATER POLO
Pepperdine water polo has seen success spanning decades under Terry Schroeder who gave the reins to Merrill Moses following the 2023 season. Highlighted by its national championship in 1997 with Moses as the starting goalie, the Waves have reached the NCAA Tournament on 13 occasions and recently won the inaugural WCC Regular Season Championship in 2023. Overall, the program has seen 60 athletes garner All-American honors while boasting a winning record in 36 of 50 seasons.

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