Nov. 22, 2008

MALIBU, Calif. - The No. 2 UCLA men's water polo team dropped a 9-5 decision at No. 5 Pepperdine on Saturday afternoon at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool. Senior Krsto Sbutega led the visiting Bruins with two goals in UCLA's final regular-season contest.

Pepperdine (19-6, 6-2 MPSF) was led by senior Grant Miller and junior J.P. MacDonell, who each scored a game-high three goals.

UCLA (15-6, 5-3 MPSF) scored the game's first goal, as Sbutega found the back of the cage during a 6-on-5 opportunity. MacDonnell tied the contest, 1-1, converting on a 6-on-5 with 6:15 to play in the first quarter.

Sbutega's second goal - a five-meter penalty shot - came with 4:26 to play in the opening period.

Pepperdine used a 3-0 scoring run extending midway into the second quarter to assume a 4-2 lead and maintained at least a one-goal advantage the rest of the contest.

UCLA sliced the Waves' margin to one goal (4-3) after senior Chris Allen scored from two-meters. Pepperdine followed with a goal from MacDonnell at 2:41 in the second quarter and from Miller with 68 seconds to play in the first half to lead, 6-3, at halftime.

Pepperdine and UCLA each traded goals in the third quarter, and the Waves outscored the Bruins by a 2-1 margin in the final period.

Junior goalkeeper Chay Lapin made four saves, and Pepperdine's John Hahn recorded 12 stops in the cage.

The Bruins open MPSF Tournament play as the No. 4 seed against No. 5 seed California on Friday, Nov. 28. Game time against the Golden Bears (18-7, 4-4 MPSF) at Pepperdine's Raleigh Runnels Pool is slated for 3 p.m.

No. 2 UCLA at No. 5 Pepperdine

UCLA Goals: Krsto Sbutega 2, Chris Allen, Cullen Hennessy, Jacob Murphy
UCLA Saves: Chay Lapin 4

Pepperdine Goals: J.P. MacDonnell 3, Grant Miller 3, Christian Cardey, Adam Hewko, Mat MacDonell
Pepperdine Saves: John Hahn 12