IRVINE, Calif. --- Senior goalie Dylan Peterson recorded 19 saves and eighth-ranked UC Irvine defeated No. 7 Long Beach State, 6-5, in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action at Anteater Aquatics Complex Saturday afternoon.
Matt Skinner's goal with 52 seconds left in the third quarter proved to be the game-winner for UCI (9-2, 1-0), which withstood two goals by the 49ers in the fourth period.
Peterson had 11 stops in the first half as UCI took a 4-2 lead at intermission in the "Black & Blue" rivalry matchup.
UCI junior Kyle Trush opened the game's scoring with 7:19 left in the first quarter before Chandler Kaltenbach answered for LBSU with 3:49 remaining.
Lovro Miocevic's power-play goal with 49 seconds left in the opening period gave the 49ers their only lead of the day at 2-1, but Antoine Lena countered for the 'Eaters with 30 ticks remaining to knot the game at 2-2 after one.
Lovre Milos put UCI up 3-2 on a score with 7:00 left in the second quarter and Ryan Warde connected on an extra-man goal with 4:59 remaining to give the 'Eaters a 4-2 lead at the half.
Jared Osborn's goal with 2:55 remaining in the third quarter extended UCI's lead to 5-2 before Keegan Wicken scored with 2:33 to pull the 49ers within 5-3.
Skinner then netted his goal late in the third for a 6-3 lead entering the fourth.
Wicken scored a power-play goal with 7:42 remaining in the fourth and Kaltenbach's goal with 3:51 left pulled LBSU within 6-5, but Peterson and UCI held off a couple of late attempts.
Both teams compete in the SoCal Invitational next weekend. UCI opens against Pepperdine Saturday at 9:20 a.m. in Malibu.
UC Irvine topped "Black & Blue" rival Long Beach State in the 'Eaters' MPSF opener Saturday.
Long Beach State 2-0-1-2 --- 5
UC Irvine 2-2-2-0 --- 6
LBSU: Chandler Kaltenbach 2, Keegan Wicken 2, Lovro Miocevic.
UCI: Kyle Trush, Antoine Lena, Lovre Milos, Ryan Warde, Jared Osborn, Matt Skinner.
Saves: Pavo Ljepopio (LBSU) 16; Dylan Peterson (UCI) 19.
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