Other than winning each of the opening quarter sprints, little went right for San José State University in a 16-6 loss to #5-ranked Pepperdine in a Golden Coast Conference (GCC) men's water polo match.
The Spartans (2-6, 1-4 GCC) had high hopes to finish a four-match weekend winning three-of-four, but settled for a split of four matches. San Jose State opened the weekend with a 9-4 non-conference win over Santa Clara and split a pair of 11-8 decisions with the Waves on Saturday, March 6.
Pepperdine had a 3-0 lead after 3:56 of the first quarter and extended its advantage to 6-2 heading into the second stanza.
Ben Hauschild's goal for San Jose State followed a second-quarter power play score by Gal Haimovich, the only time in the match the Spartans scored consecutive goals. Then, Pepperdine exploded for eight unanswered goals and a commanding 14-3 lead with 7:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.
"it was hard to battle back after being down, 3-0, It shows us what we have to work on," said San Jose State University men's water polo head coach Bruce Watson. "We knew they (Pepperdine) would be fired up (after losing the second half of Saturday's doubleheader.)
Utku Karhan was San Jose State's top scorer with two. Gal Haimovich, Ben Huaschild, Mark Kis, and Jacob Hatch, at the buzzer also scored for the Spartans.
San Jose State goalkeeper Yahav Fire was credited with six saves. Pepperdine goalkeeper Kent Emden stopped 16 shots.
The Spartans outshot the Waves, 35-27, and had plenty of power plays, but converted just 3-of-17 opportunities.
With Pepperdine winning four of the five matches between the two teams, the Waves claimed the 2020 Golden Coast Conference championship in men's water polo. UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, Long Beach State, and Pacific opted out of playing this spring.
"I'm excited to be playing (matches). A lot of teams aren't," added the Spartans' head coach.
San Jose State returns to action Saturday, March 13, hosting Santa Clara in a non-conference contest at 10:30 a.m. and take on Cuesta College in an exhibition match at 2:00 p.m. at the Student Recreation Aquatic Center.
San Jose State University
Men's Water Polo
#5-Pepperdine vs. San José State
Student Recreation Aquatic Center, San Jose, Calif.
Golden Coast Conference contest
March 7, 2021
| Score by quarters | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #5-Pepperdine (11-3, 4-1 GCC) | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
| San Jose State (2-6, 1-4 GCC) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Scoring summary |
| Pepperdine – Sean Ferrari, Curtis Jarvis, 3, each; Nicholas Fichmann, Nico Tierney, Matt Outcalt, 2, each; Xavier Marco, Austin Smit, Max Sprute, Christian Hosea, 1, each. |
| San Jose State – Utku Karhan 2; Mark Kis, Gal Haimovich, Ben Hauchild, Jacob Hatch, 1, each. |
| Goalkeeper saves |
| Pepperdine – Kent Emden, 16. |
| San Jose State – Yahav Fire (30:30), 6; Mason Smith (1:30), none. |
| Ejections |
| Pepperdine – 18. |
| San Jose State – 12. |