MALIBU, Calif. --- UC Irvine was edged by ninth-ranked Pepperdine, 8-7, Friday as the Waves scored a pair of goals 31 seconds apart late in the fourth quarter in a Golden Coast Conference game at Malibu.

Jack Trush had given UCI a 7-6 lead on a goal with 3:50 remaining in the final period, but Pepperdine's Sean Thomas tied the game at the 2:16 mark and Mark Urban hit what proved to be the game-winner for the Waves with 1:45 left.

Trush and Ian Fleenor opened the game's scoring in the first quarter for a 2-0 Anteater lead, but Pepperdine scored the next three to go up 3-2 after one.

Fleenor and Ryan Warde answered for the 'Eaters to begin the second quarter as UCI forged ahead 4-3, and after a Pepperdine goal to draw the Waves even, Bryant Joudrie scored on a power-play with 43 seconds left in the period to put the 'Eaters up again at 5-4 before Urban scored a power-play goal with 10 seconds remaining to knot the score 5-5 at halftime.

Joudrie and Marko Asic traded goals in the third quarter as the teams were tied 6-6 heading into the fourth, where Trush scored to put UCI ahead until the Waves netted the game's final two goals.

Junior goalie Matej Matijevic had 12 saves for the 'Eaters (9-11, 1-3 GCC), who lost their third straight one-goal game. Zack Rhodes had seven stops for Pepperdine (12-10, 2-2).

UCI hosts third-ranked California in a non-conference game Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in the home finale and Senior Day as Andrew Fisher and Brock Ivancovich will be recognized prior to the contest.


UC Irvine          2-3-1-1 --- 7
Pepperdine      3-2-1-2 --- 8

UCI: Ian Fleenor 2, Jack Trush 2, Bryant Joudrie 2, Ryan Warde.

Pep: Kenneth Keller 2, Sean Thomas 2, Mark Urban 2, Marko Asic, George Mooney.

Saves: Matej Matijevic (UCI) 12; Zack Rhodes (Pep) 7.