No. 1 UCLA (12-0) at
No. 7 UC Irvine (8-4)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 30
Time: 1 p.m. (PDT)
Location: Anteater Aquatics Complex - Irvine, Calif.
Registration for Promotional Giveaway

UC Irvine Alumni Game
Date: Sunday, Oct. 1
Time: 12 p.m. (PDT)
Location: Anteater Aquatics Complex - Irvine, Calif.

THIS WEEK
The seventh-ranked UC Irvine men's water polo team (8-4) returns to Anteater Aquatics Complex this weekend as it entertains No. 1 UCLA in a 1 p.m. showdown on Saturday, Sept. 30. UCI will then host its annual alumni game at noon on Sunday, Oct. 1.
 
DON'T MISS OUT
Thanks to the generous donation of a UC Irvine booster, the fan experience at home games will be bolstered by four premier promotional giveaways to the first 200 fans, beginning with a UCI hoodie this Saturday, Sept. 30.
 
A beanie (Oct. 6), long sleeve shirt (Nov. 3) and snapback hat (Nov. 8) will also be featured this year. In addition, food will be given to the first 200 fans in attendance at all games, except for the Nov. 8 contest. 
 
All home games are complimentary, but fans are required to REGISTER ONLINE to be eligible for the promotional items (including food). Pre-registration does not guarantee fans an item and/or food, as they will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to those who have pre-registered.
 
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
UCLA (12-0) jumped four spots to No. 1 in the latest USA Water Polo National Collegiate Rankings after winning the Mountain Pacific Invitational and remaining undefeated on the year. The Bruins took down Loyola Marymount, Pacific and Cal (OT), before upending then top-ranked USC, 13-11, in the championship game. 
 
Freshman Nicolas Saveljic and senior Max Irving have paced UCLA with 26 and 22 goals, respectively. On the defensive end, sophomore Alex Wolf has played a majority of the minutes in front of the cage, totaling 80 saves and a 6.32 goals against average.
 
The Bruins have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three years, winning back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015.
 
In the all-time series, UC Irvine has come up short against UCLA in the last 17 meetings. The Anteaters are looking for their first win over the Bruins since a 10-9 triumph in the first round of the 2007 MPSF Tournament. UCI's Brandon Johnson netted the game-winner with 1:10 remaining in a three-minute sudden-victory overtime period.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Last weekend, UC Irvine finished seventh at the Mountain Pacific Invitational, which featured a stacked 16-team field. The 'Eaters opened the tournament by upending No. 8 UC Santa Barbara, 11-8. Lovre Milos led the way with five goals and two steals, while Matej Matijevic tied his career-high with 18 saves in the win.
 
On Saturday, UCI saw its upset bid fall just short, dropping a narrow 10-9 decision to then No. 1 USC. The Anteaters held a 9-6 lead heading into the final period, but the Trojans scored four unanswered in the fourth to pull off the comeback victory. After suffering a 12-7 loss to sixth-ranked Long Beach State later in the day, UC Irvine found itself in the seventh-place match against No. 10 Pepperdine on Sunday. The 'Eaters and Waves went back-and-forth through regulation and two extra periods before UCI prevailed, 8-7, on Ian Fleenor's game-winner with 46 seconds remaining in sudden-victory overtime. Robby Stiefel and Milos finished with two goals apiece, and Matijevic registered 15 saves.
 
Matijevic finished the tournament ranked third in saves, while Milos was sixth in goals scored.
 
NEWS AND NOTES
The 'Eaters moved up two spots to No. 7 in the latest USA Water Polo National Collegiate Rankings. They came in behind UCLA, USC, Cal, Pacific, Stanford and Long Beach State. UC Irvine was also seventh in the Collegiate Water Polo Association's Top-20 Poll (as of Sept. 27).
 
UCI saw its six-match win streak snapped with a 10-9 loss to then No. 1 USC last weekend. During that six-game stretch, the Anteaters outscored their opponents, 88-33.
 
Senior Lovre Milos has led UC Irvine in scoring in 10 of the team's 12 games. He has found the back of the cage at least four times in seven matches, including at Cal Baptist where he scored a season-high seven goals. Milos is tops on the team with 43 goals, 12 assists and 20 steals.
 
Senior goalkeeper Matej Matijevic has started every game, totaling 153 saves (12.75/gm) in 356 minutes played. He has double-digit saves in 10 outings, and matched his career high of 18 twice against UC Santa Barbara (Sept. 2 & Sept. 22).
 
Freshman Fynn Schuetze ranks second on the squad with 25 goals. He struck three times in his collegiate debut against Fresno Pacific (Sept. 2), and led all scorers with three goals vs. No. 1 USC (Sept. 23), while netting a season-high five goals at Cal Baptist on Sept. 20.
 
After scoring only twice in the first five games, junior All-American Jack Trush has now racked up 11 goals in the last seven matches. He converted three times in a 15-8 win vs. Loyola Marymount on Sept. 9, before matching his career high with five goals against Concordia on Sept. 15. Trush ranks third on the team in scoring (13).
 
Seniors Antoine Lena and Robby Stiefel have been steady all-around for the 'Eaters. In 12 games, Lena has recorded 12 goals, seven assists and 14 steals, while Stiefel has 11 goals, 10 assists and a team-high tying 20 steals.
 
Senior Kyle Trush made his first appearance of the season against Concordia on Sept. 15, and now through six games, he has five goals, seven assists and nine steals.
 
UP NEXT
UC Irvine begins Golden Coast Conference action at home next week when it welcomes 13th-ranked San José State to Anteater Aquatics Complex on Friday, Oct. 6. First sprint is set for 7 p.m.