No. 13 Water Polo Falls 16-11 to No. 1 UCLA

Saturday, September 26

Malibu, Calif.

1:00 PM

Pepperdine University

6-9

UCLA

14-0

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
UCLA	4	5	5	2	16
Pepperdine	4	1	3	3	11

9/26/2026 4:10:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. — No. 13 Pepperdine water polo (6-9) was defeated by a score of 16-11 at home to No. 1 UCLA (14-0) Saturday afternoon from Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.

Freshman Hunter Danko led the way with a career-day against the Bruins, totaling six of Pepperdine's 11 goals. Erik Ionescu added three goals and four assists for the Waves, with all four assists coming on scores from Danko.

Tyce di Pretoro added three assists and two steals for Pepperdine, while Max Smirnov made 11 stops in the cage.

Pepperdine held a 5-4 lead early in the second period, with a 6-0 run in response from UCLA ultimately proving the difference in the game.

"The team came out with great intensity today and I couldn't ask for a better first quarter against the number one team in the country in a 4-4 tie," said head coach Merrill Moses. "The second quarter hurt us and we had some defensive lapses, which was the difference in the game since they outscored us 5-1 in that quarter. We will continue to learn from our mistakes and grow as a team. We are excited to start conference play next week against LMU on Saturday!"

UCLA jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage, but the Waves got their power play working later in the frame to help even the score. Danko had the first two for Pepperdine, both on the 6-on-5, before completing a first period hat trick with a five-meter penalty goal in the closing seconds. The teams went into the first intermission tied up at four goals apiece.

Ionescu fired in his second goal of the game to start the second period scoring, giving the Waves a 5-4 lead. The Bruins dug in defensively afterwards, holding Pepperdine without a goal for the final 7:20 of the half. UCLA tacked on five goals before the break and led 9-5 at halftime.

The Bruins went ahead 10-5 early in the second half before the Waves got back on track with goals on back-to-back possessions. di Pretoro set up Ionescu for his third of the game before Jackson Benners fired in from close-range on a counter-attack, bringing it back to a three-goal game at 10-7. Smirnov had saved a five-meter penalty shot from Ryder Dodd between the two Pepperdine goals.

UCLA responded with a goal that was answered immediately by Owen Tift, as the score sat at 11-8 in favor of UCLA with 3:29 to go in the third. UCLA ended the period strong, scoring three unanswered goals to take a three-goal advantage into the final eight minutes.

Danko completed another hat trick within a period, scoring three times for the Waves in the fourth to bring his game total to a career-high six, which also marked a new season-best from any Wave. UCLA bled down the clock and saw out the victory in the closing minutes, as the final score read 16-11 in favor of the road side.

Pepperdine will open up West Coast Conference play next, traveling to No. 11 LMU next Saturday, Oct. 3 at noon.

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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