MALIBU, Calif. --- UC Irvine staged a third-quarter comeback but the fourth-ranked 'Eaters fell to No. 8 Pepperdine, 10-6, in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opener for both teams at Malibu Saturday.
UCI (14-4, 0-1) trailed 7-2 at halftime before scoring the first three goals of the third quarter to pull within 7-5. Mitch Wise started the streak on a goal with 7:43 left in the period, followed by Jacob Mourer at 7:05 and Alan Robertson at the 5:04 mark.
The Waves' Colin Carroll then scored with 2:21 remaining in the quarter before UCI's Bojan Hrlec notched a goal with 25 seconds left in the period to bring the 'Eaters within 8-6.
Pepperdine (8-5, 1-0) scored two unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory.
Wise scored a game-high three goals for UCI, which played its 15th straight game away from home.
Pepperdine had four players who scored two goals apiece.
UCI's annual Alumni Day is Saturday at noon before the 'Eaters return to MPSF action next Sunday hosting UC Santa Barbara at noon at the Anteater Aquatics Complex.
UC Irvine 2 – 0 – 4 – 0 --- 6
Pepperdine 4 – 3 – 1 – 2 --- 10
UCI: Mitch Wise (3), Jacob Mourer, Alan Robertson, Bojan Hrlec.
Pep: Spencer Hamby (2), Stephen Loomis (2), Matthew DeTrane (2), Marko Madaras (2), James Perry, Colin Carroll.
Saves: Alex Kazmier (UCI) 4, Michael Bailey (UCI) 2; Bence Valics (Pep) 14.
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