SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The No. 17 Santa Clara University men's water polo team battled toe-to-toe with eighth-ranked Pepperdine on Friday, matching the Waves throughout a tightly contested first half before the Waves pulled away late in a 15–9 West Coast Conference decision on Senior Day at Sullivan Aquatic Center.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Broncos (9-13, 2-4 WCC) kept pace early, pulling even at 4–4 in the second period and briefly going in front when Imme van der Schaaf scored late in the second to make it 5–4. Santa Clara stayed within striking distance through the third before Pepperdine (16-10, 3-3 WCC) capitalized on a few extra possessions in the final period to widen the gap.
   
• Senior center Reese Jenican netted a hat trick, including a third-period power-play strike that trimmed the deficit to 10–7. Charlie Engs led the offense with five points (two goals, three assists) and scored just before the end of the first period to bring the Broncos within one.
   
• Riccardo De Simon added a first-period equalizer and chipped in an assist with a team-best three steals, while Luke Baird buried a goal late in the third to make it 10–8. Beck Early converted a fourth-quarter power play, and van der Schaaf added an assist alongside his early goal. Henry Engs set up two early tallies, and Thomas Wisdom and Baird each collected two steals to lead the defensive effort.
   
• In goal, senior Owen Van Stralen started and Harrison Labrosse handled the second half. The Broncos finished 2-for-5 on power plays and fired 33 total shots. Senior center Harrison Villella took two shots and dished an assist.
   
• Pepperdine was paced by Csanád Bella, who scored a game-high four goals, and Max Smirnov, who recorded 11 saves in goal. The Waves converted on two five-meter penalties and added a pair of power-play scores to seal the win.
   
• Santa Clara honored three seniors before Friday's game: Jenican, Van Stralen and Villella. Friday's game marked the end of the regular season and clinched the No. 6 seed for the Broncos at next week's WCC Championship Tournament.

COMING UP

• The Broncos face the third-seeded Waves again at 2 p.m. Friday for a rematch in the first round of the WCC Championship Tournament, hosted by Air Force. Fans can find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.