UCLA
Pepperdine
No. 1 UCLA Pummels No. 9 Pepperdine, 9-3
September 16, 2016 | Men's Water Polo
Chancellor Ramirez led the Bruins with three goals against the Waves.
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LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The top-ranked UCLA Bruins improved to 10-0 on the year with a 9-3 victory over No. 9 Pepperdine (6-1) in the Bruins' home opener on Friday night under the lights at Spieker Aquatic Center. The victory marked UCLA's 43rd-straight, which extends the second-longest winning streak in school history. The all-time record is 50, which was established from 1964-68.
Senior Chancellor Ramirez led the Bruins with three goals against Pepperdine. Junior Aleksandar Ruzic played the entire game in the cage for the Bruins, registering four saves for UCLA.
The Bruins struck first with a goal by Patrick Fellner from the front court at the 6:20 mark of the first period. Freshman James Vlachonassios made it 2-0 with another score from the front court (4:37). Ramirez scored a power play goal (2:11) and Fellner scored his second of the game on a power play (1:43) to push the lead to 4-0. Kenneth Keller scored on a lob for Pepperdine to cut the lead to 4-1 (0:40) to end the scoring in the first period.
Ramirez scored his second of the game on a counter to open the scoring in the second period (6:12), giving the Bruins a 5-1 lead. Junior Alex Roelse then drew an exclusion and finished it off with a power play score to extend the lead to 6-1 (4:35). That score held till the end of the period, resulting in the halftime score.
Ramirez ended a 10:28 scoring drought by both teams with a power play score to put UCLA up 7-1 (2:07). Roelse then scored his second from distance to push the lead to 8-1 (0:13), ending the scoring in the third.
The Waves put an end to a 17:18 scoring drought with a goal by Mate Toth with 7:22 left in the fourth period and then followed with a penalty score by Marko Asic (6:45) to cut the lead to 8-3. Senior Joey Fuentes beat Pepperdine's goalie Zackery Rhodes with a low skip shot to end the scoring (3:02) with UCLA winning 9-3.
The Bruins return to action tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7:00 p.m. at No. 7 Long Beach State.
No. 9 Pepperdine at No. 1 UCLA (Home Opener)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| No. 9 Pepperdine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
6x5 - UCLA - 4/7 - PEP - 0/5
Penalties - UCLA - 0/0 - PEP - 1/1
UCLA Goals: Chancellor Ramirez 3, Patrick Fellner 2, Alex Roelse 2, James Vlachonassios 1, Joey Fuentes 1
UCLA Saves: Aleksandar Ruzic 4
PEP Goals: Kenneth Keller 1, Mate Toth 1, Marko Asic 1
PEP Saves: Zackery Rhodes 9
