Pepperdine University
Air Force
No. 14 Water Polo Hits the Road to Take On Air Force
10/9/2026 2:00:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
MALIBU, Calif. — No. 14 Pepperdine water polo (6-10, 0-1 WCC) will head west for a conference matchup at Air Force (15-8, 0-0 WCC) set for Saturday at noon MT / 11 a.m. PT from Cadet Natatorium on the campus of the United States Air Force Academy.
The game will mark Pepperdine's final time leaving the state of California this season, as it continues a stretch of four straight WCC games.
Live streaming for the contest will be available on YouTube, with live stats on the FOSH.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Waves fell in their WCC opener at LMU by a score of 13-10.
- Hunter Danko and Erik Ionescu each netted hat tricks for the Waves.
- Charles Warmington matched a team-high four points through two goals and two assists.
- Max Smirnov made 13 saves in goal for the Waves while collecting two steals.
GAME NOTES
- Pepperdine came in at No. 14 in this week's CWPA poll. The Waves have maintained a top-15 ranking throughout the entirety of the season.
- Hunter Danko earned WCC Player and Newcomer of the Week this past weekend, after logging three goals with an assist and steal at LMU.
- Danko has claimed conference Newcomer of the Week twice in the past three weeks.
- Erik Ionescu has led the Waves with 41 goals and 32 assists this season.
- Ionescu ranks third in the conference in assists with 31 and in points with 72.
- Ionescu has scored multiple goals in eight of his last nine efforts.
- Hunter Danko has posted 34 goals this season which ranks seventh in the WCC and first among all freshmen in the conference.
- Danko has scored a goal in all 14 games that he's appeared in this season, including a streak of six straight games with multiple goals.
- Danko netted a career-high six goals against No. UCLA on Sept. 26.
- Tyce di Pretoro ranks third on the squad with 31 points this season through 11 goals and 20 assists.
- di Pretoro currently ranks ninth in the WCC circuit with his 20 helpers.
- Max Smirnov had 13 saves last time out at LMU, his sixth effort this season with a dozen or more saves.
- Smirnov has posted a ..449 save-percentage this season while leading the Waves with 22 steals this season, which ranks second in the WCC.
- Smirnov also ranks second in the conference with 146 saves and third in the nation in save-percentage.
- Jackson Benners ranks second in the WCC with 10 field blocks this season.
- Cade Anderton and Brian Barnuevo have each logged 30 points this season to rank in the top-five on the team in points.
- Jon Carcarey has posted 15 goals, eight assists, eight steals and seven field blocks this season.
- Csanád Bella has contributed 10 goals, 15 steals and six field blocks on the season.
- Milo Joseph has paced the Waves with 43 drawn exclusions so far, to go along with 12 goals.
SERIES HISTORY
- The Waves boast a 48-4 all-time record against the Falcons.
- Pepperdine has gone 12-2 in true road games at Air Force.
- Pepperdine is 3-0 in the series since the team's began competing in the West Coast Conference in 2023, outscoring the Falcons 58-38.
- Pepperdine earned an 18-14 win in the fixture in 2025 in Malibu.
- The Waves have claimed 19 consecutive victories against Air Force.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
- The Falcons enter play with a 15-8 record, having played more games this season than any team in the West Coast Conference.
- Air Force went 1-3 last weekend at the Gary Troyer Tournament, defeating Cal Lutheran before falling to California Baptist, Pomona-Pitzer and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
- Tom Leggett leads the nation in goals so far this season with 97, while Jonah Vander Veen (43) and Jack Richards (40) rank second and third in the country in assists, respectively.
- Air Force has gone 3-2 in home games this season.
The Waves will return home next weekend to host a pair of conference games. Pepperdine takes on Pacific on Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. before hosting San Jose State on Oct.18 at 1 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 67 athletes garner All-American honors while boasting a winning record in 37 of 51 seasons.
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