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Pepperdine University Athletics

Water Polo Seniors
8
Loyola Marymount LMU (12-9, 2-3 WCC)
15
Winner Pepperdine PEP (14-10, 1-3 WCC)
Loyola Marymount LMU
(12-9, 2-3 WCC)
8
Final
15
Pepperdine PEP
(14-10, 1-3 WCC)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Loyola Marymount LMU 3 3 0 2 8
Pepperdine PEP 4 5 4 2 15

Game Recap: Men's Water Polo |

No. 12 Water Polo Shuts Down No. 13 LMU; Wins 15-8 on Senior Day

MALIBU, Calif. — No. 12 Pepperdine water polo (15-10, 2-3 WCC) earned a convincing 15-8 victory over the LMU Lions (12-10, 3-3 WCC) on Senior Day from Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool Saturday afternoon.

The Waves shut out the Lions for the entire third quarter and first five minutes of the fourth, as Max Smirnov made a season-high 17 saves in a dominant effort allowing just seven goals.

Erik Ionescu paced the Waves with seven points through three goals and four assists, while Dane Howell posted three goals and three assists.

Sandor Gal scored a game-high four goals as well as the Waves' seniors totaled nine of the 15 goals, with Matty Walsh also notching a pair in the effort.

Howell, Gal, Walsh, Adam Csapo, Zach Cwiertnia and Conor Brough were honored pregame as part of senior day ceremonies.

"The team played very well today and we as a coaching staff are very proud of their defensive execution," said head coach Merrill Moses. "There was an amazing crowd today and it was a great environment to honor our six seniors in their final home game of the season. We will continue to focus on our defense and prepare the team to be at their strongest in our conference tournament in two weeks."

Pepperdine jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the opening frame with Ionescu and Csanád Bella getting on the scoresheet before Adam Blum converted on a Waves' power play. The Lions answered with an extra man goal of their own, with Ionescu getting it back on the next possession. Tommaso Baldineti of the Lions put home a five-meter penalty in the closing seconds of the first frame and Pepperdine led 4-3 after one.

The Waves would not relinquish the lead at any point in the contest, as Howell made good on a five-meter of his own in the second frame while Gal notched a pair before the half. The Lions notched back-to-back goals to make it a 7-6 game with 2:30 remaining in the half, as Smirnov took over and did not allow a goal for the next 16:23 of game time. A late goal from Matty Walsh saw the Waves eventually take a 9-6 lead into halftime.

Gal scored the first two of the second half, with Howell getting the next pair as the Waves won the third by a 4-0 scoreline.

The Pepperdine scoring run increased to 8-0 early in the fourth, as Ionescu fired in an extra man tally and Walsh picked up his second of the game which put the Waves ahead 15-6.

After making 17 stops, Smirnov was beaten for the lone time in the second half with 2:07 remaining, as he then ceded the cage to Cwiertnia for the closing minutes.

The Waves secured the win by a 15-8 scoreline, finishing up the home slate with a 7-2 mark this season while extending their season-long winning streak to four games.

Game Notes
  • Max Smirnov made a season-high 17 saves in the victory.
  • Sandor Gal scored a game-high four goals with three field blocks.
  • Dane Howell registered three goals and three assists.
  • Erik Ionescu recorded a game-high seven points with three goals and four assists.
  • Walsh scored twice, improving his stretch of scoring multiple goals to 13 times in his last 14 games.
  • Charles Warmington, Adam Blum and Csanád Bella each added a goal.
  • Brian Barnuevo contributed two assists while Cade Anderton also logged a helper.
  • The Waves had seven field blocks as a team.
  • Pepperdine improves to 52-9 in the all-time series with LMU.
  • The Waves held their opponent to under 10 goals for the fourth time this season.
The Waves will close out the regular season with a WCC matchup Friday at No. 17 Santa Clara, with opening sprint 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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