The Pepperdine Water Polo win streak comes to an end.
Men’s Water Polo suffered their first loss of the year at the hands of the undefeated No. 3 University of Southern California on Sept. 15, at Uytengsu Aquatics Center. This loss puts them at 5-1 on the season.
Pepperdine was looking to pick up their first win over the Trojans since 2019, however, the Waves team lost this affair 7-16. This brings Pepperdine’s record to 22-73-2 all-time against the Trojans.
Despite the score, this game was a fight between these two highly ranked squads.
USC opened the scoring in this match, but the Waves answered back quickly with two goals of their own at the hands of junior attacker Adam Csapo and fifth year attacker Christian Hosea to bring the score to 2-1. Csapo would be responsible for five of the seven Waves goals in this game, according to Pepperdine Athletics.
The first period was neck and neck, ending in a 3-4 scoreline. The second period is where the game slipped away from the Waves, as USC scored five goals in this period, bringing the score to 3-9 USC.
Pepperdine failed to score in this period and the Trojan momentum continued to grow. USC would score three more goals in the third period before Pepperdine would answer back, concluding what was USC’s eighth consecutive goal, bringing the match to a 3-12 scoreline at the last minute of the period.
Though the Trojans went on a goal streak, at games end, both teams were close in shots. Pepperdine recorded 31 to USC’s 33, according to Pepperdine Athletics.
Csapo tallied 10 shots this matchup and followed the Trojan’s goal-streak with two consecutive goals of his own. But, in the remaining 30 seconds of the period, USC scored once again bringing the score to 5-13 at the end of the third period.
In an eight goal deficit, the Waves opened the fourth quarter with two goals in an attempt to mount a comeback. However, this would be all Pepperdine had in the tank, as USC scored three more goals to end the match 7-16.
The Trojan’s defense was the difference maker in this matchup. USC recorded 14 steals against Pepperdine’s five, and USC goalies saved 12 shots while freshman goalie Max Smirnov saved nine shots.
Csapo would lead the scoring for the Waves with five, followed by Hosea and junior attacker Conor Brough with one each.
Though the scoring was low, the Waves were active in the water. Csapo got off 10 shots while freshman attacker Erik Ionescu had six, as nine total Waves recorded shots come game end, according to Pepperdine Athletics.
Men’s Water Polo suffered a tough loss, but they are still a tough team, and they look to prove that as they return home for a pair of home matches. Pepperdine hosts Westcliff at noon and No. 12 UC Santa Barbara at 5 p.m. on Sept. 19, at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.
___________________
Follow the Graphic on X: @PeppGraphic
Contact Justin Rodriguez via email: justin.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu
