No. 2 UCLA Blanks No. 8 Pepperdine, 10-0

Saturday, October 13

Stanford, CA

10:40 AM

UCLA

Pepperdine

Freshman Michael Graner led the Bruins with a season-best two goals against the Waves.

Photo by: Minette Rubin

No. 2 UCLA Blanks No. 8 Pepperdine, 10-0

October 13, 2018 | Men's Water Polo

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STANFORD, Calif. -- No. 2 UCLA improved to 18-0 on the year with a 10-0 win over No. 8 Pepperdine in the quarterfinals of the Mountain Pacific Invitational on Saturday morning at Avery Pool at Avery Aquatic Center. The Bruins improved to 80-31-1 all-time against the Waves as Pepperdine dropped to 10-7 on the year. It marked the Bruins' first shutout since an 11-0 home win over UC Irvine on Oct. 1, 2016.

The Bruins were led by freshman Michael Graner and sophomore Chasen Travisano, who each scored a game-high two goals. Redshirt junior Alex Wolf started in the cage and pitched a shutout through three quarters while registering nine saves. Freshman Danny Roland played the fourth quarter and tallied two saves while also pitching a shutout.

Freshman Ashworth Molthen opened the scoring with a power play goal at the 7:12 mark of the first period. Freshman Jake Cavano followed with a score from the front court (5:14) to make it 2-0. Travisano scored his first of the game on a power play (4:31) to end the scoring in the first period with the Bruins up 3-0.

An identical quarter followed with the Bruins picking up three more goals while pitching a shutout. Sophomore Felix Brozyna-Vilim scored from two meters (7:16) off a nice feed from Graner. Sophomore Nicolas Saveljic then found the back of the net on a strike from the front court (2:53) to push the lead to 5-0. Freshman Matthew Kacura ended the scoring in the period by converting a penalty shot (2:14) to give UCLA a 6-0 lead at the break.

Another 3-0 quarter followed in the third period. Travisano netted his second of the game on a penalty shot (6:25) and senior Austin Rone chipped in a goal on a 6-on-5 opportunity (3:47) to extend the lead to 8-0. Graner scored his first of the game from the front court (1:24) to end the scoring in the third with the Bruins leading 9-0.

A defensive minded period followed in the fourth as the Bruins pitched a shutout and scored one goal as Graner notched his second of the game on a counter (3:50) to provide the 10-0 final.

The Bruins return to action later today when they face No. 1 Stanford (12-0) on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 5:20 p.m. PT at Avery Aquatic Center.

No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 8 Pepperdine (Mountain Pacific Invitational Quarterfinal)