2014 Triton Invitational

SEASON BEGINS IN LA JOLLA                                                                               

● UC Irvine, ranked No. 8 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association's preseason national poll, opens the 2014 season at the Triton Invitational, hosted by UC San Diego, in La Jolla this weekend.

● On Saturday, the 'Eaters face 14^th-ranked Loyola Marymount at 10:40 a.m. and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 4:00 p.m.  Both games will be played at Triton Pool. 

● Sunday, UCI meets No. 11 UC Davis at 8:00 a.m. at Triton Pool and the University of La Verne at 2:50 p.m. at Canyonview Pool.

● This weekend's action begins a stretch of 18 consecutive games away from home to start the season for UCI.


TRUSH IS LEADING RETURNING SCORER

● Sophomore Kyle Trush is the leading returning scorer for UCI after he scored 35 goals in his initial collegiate season last year.

● Other returning players who recorded double-digit goal totals last season are senior Jacob Mourer (21 goals), junior Jared Osborn (19), senior Alan Robertson (18), junior Larson Pfeil (16), senior Kyle Kittlitz (12) and junior Pablo Carballo (11).

● Newcomers expected to make an immediate impact for the 'Eaters are sophomore Lovre Milos, a native of Croatia and transfer from UCLA who scored 36 goals for the Bruins last season.  Freshman Matt Skinner was the MVP of the Australian All-Schools National Tournament and he competed in the 2013 Youth World Championships and the 2012 Junior World Championships.  Freshman Ryan Warde (Edison HS) is the son of Tom Warde, who was the National Player of the Year in 1989 when he helped lead UCI to the NCAA title.  Ryan's sister, Danielle, is a three-time All-American for the Anteater women's water polo program.

● A deep goaltending corps includes returning players Michael Bailey and Dylan Peterson. Bailey, a senior, had 79 saves in 11 games last year while Peterson, a junior, made 35 stops in six games.  Freshman Byron Rivers recorded 427 saves in 28 games at El Toro High last year.


COACHING STAFF

● Marc Hunt is in his 10^th season as UCI's head coach.  A two-time All-American while playing at UCI, Hunt earned Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Coach of the Year honors in 2007 and 2009.

● Milos Skaljac has joined the staff as assistant coach, Greg Haynes is volunteer assistant coach and Bruce Reynolds returns as the program's director of operations.