IRVINE, Calif. --- Sixth-ranked UC Irvine fell behind early and could never recover as No. 3 UC Santa Barbara topped the 'Eaters, 13-7, in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation game at Anteater Aquatics Complex Sunday afternoon.

The Gauchos (15-5, 1-2 MPSF) jumped out to a 4-1 lead, including two goals by Dylan Baliani, in the first four minutes of the game.  UCI closed to within 5-3 at the end of the first quarter on a power-play goal by Bojan Hrlec with 46 seconds left, but UCSB then scored three unanswered goals in the second period to lead 8-3 at halftime.

Mitch Wise scored a pair of quick goals in the third quarter to pull the 'Eaters within 9-5 at the 5:56 mark, but three straight goals by the Gauchos extended the lead to 12-5 and sealed the win.

Evan Dellinger led UCSB with three goals while Baliani and Jake Miller added two each.  Gaucho goalie Myles Christian had 18 saves.

Hrlec scored a hat trick for UCI (14-5, 0-2), with Wise and Winston Newland scoring two goals each.

UCI hosts top-ranked USC Thursday night at 7:00 in an MPSF contest.


UC Santa Barbara       5 – 3 – 4 – 1 --- 13
UC Irvine                   3 – 0 – 4 – 0 --- 7

UCSB:  Evan Dellinger 3, Dylan Baliani 2, Jake Miller 2, Nick Tomasello, Derek Shoemaker, Teddy Zhang, Brendan McElroy, Brian Shoemaker, Bryce Miller.

UCI:  Bojan Hrlec 3, Winston Newland 2, Mitch Wise 2.

Saves:  Myles Christian (UCSB) 18;  Alex Kazmier (UCI) 5, Michael Bailey (UCI) 6.

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