Pepperdine University
Long Beach State
11/13/2026 3:18:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
MALIBU, Calif. — No. 15 Pepperdine water polo (11-13, 4-3 WCC) is set to close out the regular season playing host to No. 13 Long Beach State (16-9, 2-3 Big West) Saturday at 5 p.m. from Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.
The game marks senior day for the Waves as a pregame ceremony will honor Jackson Benners, Conor Brough, Nick Bryant, Jon Carcarey, Woden Chompff, Milo Joseph, Reed Pantaleon and Adam Yost, prior to their final home game in Malibu.
Fans are encouraged to wear orange and the first 100 fans in attendance will also receive a complimentary bucket hat.
Live coverage for the game can be found on ESPN+, with live stats available on the FOSH. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Pepperdine earned the No. 4 seed in the WCC Tournament and will take on Santa Clara in the WCC Quarterfinals next Friday (Nov. 20) at 11:30 a.m. The semifinals will be held Saturday with the WCC Championship game set for Sunday, Nov. 22 at noon.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Waves earned a pair of victories to close out conference play last weekend, taking down Saint Mary's and No. 13 Pacific on the road.
- Pepperdine logged a 14-12 victory at Saint Mary's, led by a career-high seven goals from Hunter Danko.
- The Waves returned for a 13-10 win at No. 13 Pacific, with Tyce di Pretoro pacing Pepperdine with five points.
- The wins concluded the WCC slate as Pepperdine finished with a 4-3 mark in conference games this regular season.
GAME NOTES
- The Waves moved up to No. 15 in the final regular season CWPA national rankings this week.
- Hunter Danko earned his third WCC Newcomer of the Week award after totaling nine goals in Pepperdine's wins over Saint Mary's and Pacific last week.
- Danko has recorded 55 goals and 67 points this season, scoring a goal in 21 of 22 appearances in his debut collegiate season.
- Danko leads all freshmen in the WCC in goals.
- Erik Ionescu has led the Waves with 61 goals and 102 points so far this season.
- Ionescu ranks fifth in the conference in goals and third in points.
- Ionescu has scored multiple goals in 19 games this season and posted four or more points in 16 different contests.
- Tyce di Pretoro ranks third on the team with 50 points through 19 goals and 31 assists.
- di Pretoro had a team-high five points with two goals and three assists last time out against Pacific.
- Brian Barnuevo became the fourth Wave to reach the 40-point mark this season, having registered 34 goals and six assists.
- Max Smirnov has commanded the cage for the Waves this season, totaling 213 saves which ranks second in the WCC.
- Smirnov also leads the Waves and is fifth in the conference with 33 steals this season.
- Milo Joseph has scored in eight straight games and is up to 31 goals this season.
- Joseph has drawn four or more exclusions in 13 efforts this season.
- The Waves have gone 3-4 in home games this season.
SERIES HISTORY
- The Waves boast a 77-42 all-time record against the Beach.
- Pepperdine is 25-11 at home in the series.
- The Waves have gone 6-4 in the past ten meetings dating back to 2019.
- Long Beach earned a 20-18 win earlier this season at the Triton Invite.
SCOUTING THE BEACH
- Long Beach has posted a 16-9 overall record this season and enters ranked No. 13 in the CWPA national poll.
- The Beach are coming off a 17-15 defeat at LMU on Thursday, as they've gone 2-4 in true road games this season.
- Long Beach has gone 3-2 against WCC opponents this season.
- Five different Long Beach players have posted over 80 points this season, with Federico Gulisano leading the way with 63 goals.
The Waves will head to the WCC Tournament next, matching up with fifth-seeded Santa Clara on Friday, Nov. 20 at 11:30 a.m. in Santa Clara, Calif.
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.
TICKETS
For more information on upcoming home events and to purchase tickets, visit here.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine water polo news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineMWP.
