IRVINE, Calif. --- Kyle Trush, Lovre Milos and Matt Skinner scored three goals each to lead eighth-ranked UC Irvine over No. 14 UC San Diego, 17-8, in a non-conference game at Anteater Aquatics Complex Thursday night.
Larson Pfeil, Antoine Lena and Ryan Warde added two goals apiece for UCI (8-2) in its 2015 home opener.
Nick Alexander led the Tritons (6-7) with three goals.
Milos scored a pair of goals in the opening 2 ½ minutes and Jared Osborn, Trush and Pfeil followed to give the 'Eaters a 5-0 lead with 1:58 left in the first quarter.
Tyler Mancuso put UCSD on the board with 47 seconds left in the first period before Lena notched a power-play score with 11 seconds remaining to give UCI a 6-1 lead.
Each team scored four times in the second quarter with two apiece by UCI's Skinner and Alexander of UCSD.
The 'Eaters outscored the Tritons, 5-1, in the third period to take a 15-6 lead entering the final quarter.
Skinner's extra-man goal with 6:43 remaining pushed UCI's lead to 10 at 16-6, Chase Cockerill answered for UCSD with a power-play goal at the 4:01 left, Pablo Carballo put the 'Eaters up 17-7 with 2:29 remaining and Alexander closed out the scoring with 1:38 left.
Dylan Peterson recorded 11 saves in goal for UCI in the first three quarters and Byron Rivers had five stops in the fourth period.
UCI opens Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action Saturday, hosting Long Beach State in a "Black & Blue" rivalry game at 12 noon at Anteater Aquatics Complex.
UC San Diego 1-4-1-2 --- 8
UC Irvine 6-4-5-2 --- 17
UCSD: Nick Alexander 3, Tyler Mancuso, Cole Martinez, Nassim Hmeidan, Jacob Castro, Chase Cockerill.
UCI: Kyle Trush 3, Lovre Milos 3, Matt Skinner 3, Larson Pfeil 2, Antoine Lena 2, Ryan Warde 2, Jared Osborn, Pablo Carballo.
Saves: Jack Turner (UCSD) 8, Sam Thompson (UCSD) 2; Dylan Peterson (UCI) 11, Byron Rivers (UCI) 5.
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