PEPPERDINE, Calif. – Facing No. 11 Pepperdine for the third time this season in Saturday's regular season finale, the No. 8-T UC Santa Barbara men's water polo team was finally defeated by the Waves, falling 13-12 thanks to Nico Tierney's game-winner with 11 seconds left.
The Gauchos (13-12, 3-2) will now take the No. 3 seed into next weekend's GCC Tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Goalscorers: Hawkins (3), McFarland (2), Brosnan (2), Nangle (2), Gyenis, Oriskovich
Saves: Danny Roland (5)
Fresh off its first win over a top-5 win this season, UCSB carried that momentum into an early 6-2 advantage over Pepperdine (13-13, 2-3) with a few minutes to go before halftime. Seven different Gauchos accounted for their first seven goals, with James Oriskovich putting the team up 7-3 early in the second half.
Senior Tommy Hawkins recorded his fifth straight multi-goal game and secured his first hat trick of the season with 5:43 left in the game to put the Gauchos ahead 11-8. However, it would be all Pepperdine down the stretch, particularly in the final two minutes.
The Waves made it a one-goal game with 1:41 to go and tied it on their next possession leaving 52 ticks on the clock. UCSB couldn't regain the lead, and the Waves got a power play leading to Tierney's game-winner.
NEXT UP
The bracket is now set for next weekend's GCC Tournament, which will be hosted by UC Santa Barbara. The No. 3 seed Gauchos open against No. 6 San Jose State on Friday, Nov. 18 at 7:00 p.m.
