UCLA
Pepperdine
No. 4 UCLA Men's Water Polo Defeats No. 5 Pepperdine, 9-6
October 31, 2009 | Men's Water Polo
Oct. 31, 2009
LOS ANGELES - The No. 4 UCLA men's water polo team registered a 9-6 MPSF victory at No. 5 Pepperdine on Saturday afternoon at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool. Senior Scott Swanson and freshmen Josh Samuels and Griffin White each scored a team-leading two goals for the visiting Bruins (17-5, 3-2 MPSF).
Pepperdine (8-10, 1-4 MPSF) received two goals from J.P. MacDonell and Brett Auer.
The Bruins led from the start, claiming a 4-0 advantage midway through the first quarter. White scored on a 6-on-5 opportunity at 6:18 in the opening frame before junior Ben Hohl added one goal to double the Bruins' margin. Ensuing goals by sophomore Cullen Hennessey and Samuels handed UCLA a 4-0 lead.
Pepperdine got on the board in the first quarter with a goal from MacDonnell, slicing the Bruins' margin to 4-1.
The Waves reduced UCLA's advantage to one goal (4-3) by halftime. MacDonnell scored on a penalty shot at the 7:12 mark in the second quarter before Pepperdine's Taylor Watson took advantage of a 6-on-5 opportunity with his lone goal of the afternoon.
UCLA claimed a 6-4 lead through three quarters. Swanson scored back-to-back goals on 6-on-5 opportunities for the Bruins early in the third period. With 2:30 to play in the frame, Auer scored the Waves' only goal of the quarter, allowing Pepperdine to trail 6-4.
The Bruins added to their cushion, taking advantage of fourth-quarter goals from senior Cole Consani and Samuels to lead 8-4. Watson scored on a 6-on-5 opportunity with 4:51 to play before UCLA answered with White's second goal of the game on a 6-on-5 play with 3:24 remaining. Snyder scored the final goal of the game at 3:01, as UCLA held on for the 9-6 victory.
Senior goalkeeper Chay Lapin registered five saves for UCLA. Pepperdine's Colin Carroll also recorded five stops in the cage.
UCLA returns to action at No. 8 Long Beach State on Sunday. Game time of the MPSF match is 12 p.m.
No. 4 UCLA at No. 5 Pepperdine
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| UCLA | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| Pepperdine | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
UCLA Goals: Josh Samuels 2, Scott Swanson 2, Griffin White 2, Cole Consani, Ben Hohl, Cullen Hennessy
UCLA Saves: Chay Lapin 5
Pepperdine Goals: J.P. MacDonell 2, Taylor Watson 2, Brett Auer, Clayton Snyder
Pepperdine Saves: Colin Carroll 5
