Oct. 17, 2008

DAVIS, Calif. -

Official Scoresheet in PDF Format

Senior attacker Adam Hewko scored five goals while senior center back Grant Miller added four to lead No. 5 Pepperdine to a 14-9 win over No. 11 UC Davis in a non-conference men's collegiate water polo game at a brimming Schaal Aquatics Center Friday evening.

The Aggies dip to 7-9 for the season. The Waves improve to 13-4 overall.

Senior utility Adam Bennett scored five goals to lead UC Davis. Sophomore Aaron Salit added two scores, while Jim Breen and Matt Richardson each tallied one. Goaltenders Kevin Peat and Erik Quinn platooned in the Aggie cage, recording seven and five saves, respectively.

The Waves took a quick lead as Hewko and Miller each scored goals within the first two minutes of play. The Aggies struggled on offense early, committing two turnovers and two missed shots in their first four possessions. Hewko struck again with 2:12 remaining in the first to extend the Pepperdine lead to 3-0, then Bennett cracked the seal for UC Davis with his goal on the next possession. The Aggies then fought off a Wave 6-on-5 chance, then cut the lead to one on Salit's score at the 0:48 mark.

Pepperdine then took control of the game, as Hewko completed his hat trick with 30 ticks remaining in the first. He and Miller each had goals early in the second, helping the Waves pull away to as much as an 8-2 edge. Pepperdine led 9-3 at the halftime break.

Bennett accounted for four of his team's six goals after the break, including three in the final period. Salit scored his second goal on a 6-on-5 chance in the final seconds of the third. His first shot was field-blocked, but he picked up the rebound and found the back of the net. In all, UC Davis scored five of the game's final seven goals to bring the final margin to five.

J.P. McDonell scored the Waves' only goal in the fourth, depositing his shot into the Aggie cage soon after the 6-on-5 clock had wound down.

The Aggies return to action against defending NCAA champion California on Saturday. Game time is noon at Schaal Aquatics Center.

GOALS - PEP: Adam Hewko 5, Grant Miller 4, J.P. MacDonell 2, Jacob Young 1, Sam Busby 1, Matt Digges 1. UC Davis: Adam Bennett 5, Aaron Salit 2, Jim Breen 1, Matt Richardson 1.

GOALIE SAVES - PEP: Jack Curley 5 (32:00). UC Davis: Kevin Peat 7 (16:00), Erik Quinn 5 (16:00).