SARAH DAUGHERTY/Staff Photographer
SHUHEI MATSUO
Sports Editor
The fifth-ranked Pepperdine water polo team stayed perfect at home when it captured a comeback 12-9 victory during today’s match against No.-13 Pacific.
With this victory, the Waves improved 21-4 for the season, while the Tigers dropped to 13-12.
“I’m definitely satisfied for the W,” Head Coach Jack Kocur said. “But I’m not satisfied with the way we played or the intensity we brought.”
Pepperdine struggled in the first half and let the lower-ranked team lead after the first 16 minutes of the game with a score of 6-5. However, the Waves came back strong in the second half with three consecutive goals in the third quarter to regain the lead. Pacific scored two goals to end the third quarter tied at 8-8.
The Waves, with two impressive saves by sophomore goalie Travis Stachowki, dominated in the final quarter both defensively and offensively and concluded another comeback showdown with a 12-9 win.
Sophomore attacker Clayton Snyder contributed to the victory with five goals, but he remained humble about his impressive performance.
“Realistically, I can’t go out there and score five goals by my own. Absolutely not,” he said. “Every one of those opportunities is from how my teammates set me up. Sure, I did my job, but everyone else was doing their job, too, to have everything come together for each and every goal.”
Pepperdine hosts No.-3 California tomorrow at 1 p.m. Even though the Waves have upset only one team (then No.-5 UCI on Sept. 16) this season, Kocur said they could definitely take the Golden Bears down.
“I feel like we have a capability of taking down anybody this year depends on who mentally shows up,” he said. “The guys got to take some mental pills tonight and show up tomorrow, knowing that they can win.”
Echoing his coach, Snyder also said he and his team could upset Cal if they could play “Waves water polo.”
“If we do that, stick together as a team, keep our heads straight, keep focused, and stay positive,” he said, “it’s our win.”
10-20-2007
