MALIBU, Calif. – No. 12 Pepperdine water polo (5-2) picked up a 22-7 win over Whittier (3-3) before taking down No. 19 UC Santa Barbara (8-4) with a thrilling sudden death overtime goal from Dane Howell to top the Gauchos 15-14 on Thursday afternoon from Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.

In a doubleheader in Malibu, Pepperdine picked up a convincing win over Whittier to begin the day with 14 different Waves finding the back of the cage with a goal. In game two, the Waves fell behind and trailed throughout, eventually forcing overtime and seeing Dane Howell net the game-winner in sudden death.

Howell posted a hat trick in each game of the day while Erik Ionescu led the Waves with seven goals and three assists on the day including a seven-point effort against UCSB.

Matty Walsh was key for the Waves against the Gauchos with four goals while adding two against Whittier.

The Waves saw contributions throughout the lineup, with Sandor Gall totaling five assists on the day and Reed Pantaleon scoring twice in each game.

Zach Cwiertnia made eight saves to get the win over Whittier while Max Smirnov came on in relief versus UCSB to make five saves down the stretch and earn the win.

"I'm super proud of our team showing determination and grit in the comeback win," said head coach Merrill Moses. "We had some key players have a huge game, but this was a team win and we ended up coming back because of our defense in the second half and in overtime."

Game One: No. 12 Pepperdine 22, Whittier 7
The Waves were dominant early and often in the matchup with the Poets, getting out to a 4-0 lead through the opening period of the game. Erik Ionescu tallied the first two of the game for the Waves, followed by scores from Csanád Bella and Dane Howell. 

Whittier got on the board with a goal following one from Cade Anderston that started the period, but the Waves would end the half on a 4-0 spurt to take a 9-1 lead into halftime. Cameron Bench tallied his first career goal while Ionescu and Howell secured their hat tricks as the Waves remained in control.

Pepperdine extended its lead in the third, with Walsh and Reed Pantaleon each scoring twice and Brian Barnuevo tacking on his fourth tally of the season as Pepperdine entered the fourth period with a 14-4 advantage. 

The final frame saw more career firsts for the Waves, with Woden Chompff, Gabe Lewis and Nick Bryant each registering their first Pepperdine goals. Bench and fellow freshmen Max Burstein, Alex Piccin and Adam Blum all contributed goals as the Waves collected a 22-7 win. 

Zach Cwiertnia got his first start in the cage for Pepperdine, totaling eight saves in the winning effort. 

Game Two: No. 12 Pepperdine 15, No. 19 UC Santa Barbara 14 (SD OT)
After a goal from Erik Ionescu on the opening possession of the game, the Waves conceded the next four to the Gauchos who held a multi-goal lead throughout the contest. Matty Walsh got on the scoresheet for the Waves to end the frame as the visitors led 4-2 after the first period.

The Waves continued to battle but were bested in the second frame again, and trailed 8-5 at halftime following a buzzer beating goal from the Gauchos to end the first half. Pantaleon scored a pair in the closing minutes of the half to keep the Waves within striking distance.

Pepperdine looked to gain momentum in the second half with Walsh firing one through on the man advantage, but the road side continued to convert and notched the next two as the Waves trailed 10-6 midway through the third period. This prompted a 7-2 run to end the regulation frame, beginning with two goals within 33 seconds from Howell and Bella which began the comeback.

Trailing by two goals entering the fourth, the Pepperdine defense was up to the task, limiting the Gauchos to just one goal in the final 11:27 of regulation. An equalizing goal from Walsh with 3:55 remaining eventually sent the game into overtime at 12-12, as neither side could find the winner despite multiple chances.

The Waves got out to a one-goal lead after the first overtime with tallies from Walsh and Ionescu, but the Gauchos answered in the second overtime with the tying goal and did not allow Pepperdine through, as the sides went into sudden death overtime tied at 14.

Howell began the sudden death period with his seventh straight sprint win for the Waves in the game, but Pepperdine was unable to capitalize following a UCSB exclusion, but eventually got the ball back as the defense continued to hold firm. Howell would not let the opportunity pass again, firing in an unassisted tally 87 seconds in the sudden death frame to give Pepperdine the comeback victory at home.

Max Smirnov got the win in goal for the Waves, making five saves with four goals allowed after coming on in relief in the third period.

Game Notes

• Erik Ionescu tallied five goals and two assists against UCSB and totaled eight goals on the day to lead the Waves.
• Dane Howell had a hat trick in both games on the day while adding four assists and the sudden death overtime winner. 
• Howell went seven-for-seven in sprints in the game two win.
• Sandor Gal contributed five assists on the day with two steals.
• Matty Walsh recorded six goals on the day including four in the win over UCSB.
• Reed Pantaleon potted two goals in each victory.
• Nick Bryant scored a pair of goals for his first career tallies with the Waves.
• Woden Chompff and Gabe Lewis added their first collegiate goals.
• Zach Cwiertnia made eight saves in goal against Whittier while allowing seven goals.
• Conor Brough added three assists on the day including two in the win over UCSB.
• Cameron Bench tallied two goals while seeing his first collegiate action.
• Pepperdine is now 2-0 in overtime contests in the Merrill Moses era.
• 14 different Waves scored a goal in the win over Whittier.
• The 22 goals against Whittier marked a new season-high

The Waves will have a quick turnaround and travel to No. 1 UCLA on Saturday with the opening sprint set for 3:00 p.m.

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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