By Erica Sigman
Staff Writer
Luck ran out for the Waves as they sought revenge against Stanford Sunday afternoon at the Avery Aquatic Center.
The No.-5 ranked Waves fell to the No.3-ranked Cardinal 10-8, for the second time this season, after shutting out No. 14 University of Pacific 12-0 the previous day.
The Waves finish the weekend up north with an overall record of 14-5, and 3-3 in conference play.
Senior two-meter man Michael Hausmann scored a career-high five goals against Pacific in the fourth quarter, helping the Waves dominate consistently throughout the game.
Pacific played strong defense in the second and third quarters of play, holding Pepperdine to four goals, but could not compare to Pepperdine’s defense, holding Pacific scoreless for the whole game.
Junior goalkeeper Ben Tait dominated for the Waves with 10 saves to secure the shutout.
The Pepperdine team that dominated in the water at Pacific Saturday, did not seem prepared to do the same at Stanford the following afternoon.
Not only did Stanford’s key player, Tony Azevedo, score a game-high five goals, but the Pepperdine team seemed to let the physicality of the game get the best of them.
Four players for the Waves were majored from the game; all were starters. Junior driver Josh Acosta was the first player out, followed by junior utility man Jesse Smith, senior two-meter guard Scott Harvey, and junior two-meter guard Jordan Keitel.
“There was a lot of fighting,” freshman driver Garrit Barth said. “I’m surprised I kept my cool. I was just trying to put the ball in the cage.”
Keitel fell victim to being majored from the game and commented on the officiating.
“I think the referees made a lot of questionable calls on both sides,” Keitel said. “In the end, you can’t really blame them, it’s up to the players. It was still up us to win the game.”
When key players are eliminated from the game, those left in the pool really have to take it up a notch and overcome all the emotion that goes hand in hand with this game.
“I was really frustrated,” Keitel said. “You want to be in there and playing. You don’t want to feel like you’re letting the team down. A lot of guys who don’t usually get to play were able to step up and get good experience.”
Barth agrees.
“I think that the people left in the water, as well as myself, really needed to step up,” Barth said. “We had to play really hard to compensate for the loss.”
Barth is coming off a shoulder injury and was not expected to get much playing time this weekend, but because of the defensive set backs, he really had the chance to step up.
“It feels good to be back in the water,” Barth said. “I don’t like sitting out.”
Barth helped out his team by adding one goal to scoreboard.
Despite the overly physical nature of the game, the Waves were still able to hold their own, especially in the first half.
Pepperdine led Stanford 6-4 at the half, but Stanford came back with four unanswered goals, taking the lead and not looking back.
“We’re trying to focus on learning from what we did,” Keitel said. “We know we can beat them.”
Once again, Hausmann led the Waves with three goals and Tait contributed to the effort with 10 saves.
This weekend the Waves will host No. 7-ranked Cal State Long Beach Saturday at noon.
“We have to play them like they’re any other team,” Barth said.
If the Waves come out strong and stay consistent, this contest will be an easy win.
“We need to focus on playing as best as we can,” Keitel said. “We just have to play our game and keep doing what we do best.”
November 06, 2003