No. 9 UCI Drops a Pair of Games on the Final Day of Triton Invite

Sunday, September 2

La Jolla, CA

10:30 AM

UC Irvine

California

No. 9 UCI Drops a Pair of Games on the Final Day of Triton Invite

September 02, 2018 | Men's Water Polo

By: Sarah Zetlmeisl

LA JOLLA, Calif. – The ninth-ranked UCI men's water polo team dropped a pair of games on the final day of the Triton Invitational, Sunday in La Jolla. The Anteaters suffered a 15-12 defeat to No. 3 Cal before falling to No. 6 Long Beach State, 9-8, in sudden death overtime.

UCI moves to 2-2 on the season. The Bears finished the weekend 4-0 and LBSU went 3-1 at the invite.

GAME ONE - CAL 15, UCI 12

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Jason Evezard led UCI with three goals
> Jack Trush, Zlatan Nikocevic, Jack Baumgardner and Ian Fleenor each finished with two goals
> Casey Lynton also tallied a goal for the Anteaters
> Cal's Odysseas Masmanidis led all players with four goals

TURNING POINTS
> Both teams exchanged points back-and-forth as the game was tied, 5-5, with 24 seconds left in the first quarter
> Cal scored with five seconds left to play in the first quarter to take a 6-5 lead
> The Bears scored two goals to open-up the second quarter, jumping out to an 8-5 lead
> Trush answered with a goal to make it a two-goal game, 8-6, with 2:50 left to play in the second frame
> Cal added a quick goal before Jon Polos scored to make it 9-7 at halftime
> The Bears increased their lead to 11-7 early in the third quarter but UCI scored four down the stretch to make it 12-11 heading into the final quarter
> The two teams exchanged points to open-up the fourth quarter but the Bears drilled in two goals late to seal the 15-12 win

GAME TWO - LBSU 9, UCI 8 SD OT

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Jason Evezard led UCI with three goals
> Jack Baumgardner tallied two goals for the 'Eaters
> Zlatan Nikocevic, and Foster Hoose each had a goal
> Austin Stewart had three goals for LBSU
> Byron Rivers made 17 saves in goal

TURNING POINTS
> LBSU got on the board first but UCI scored three-straight to take a 4-2 lead after the first quarter
> The Anteaters couldn't find the back of the net in the second quarter while the 49ers tallied two goals to knot the game, 4-4, heading into halftime
> UCI jumped out to a 5-4 lead in the third quarter but LBSU tied it at five with 2:18 to play
> The game remained, 6-6, after the third quarter
> Joudrie drilled in a goal with 6:00 minutes left in the final quarter to give UCI a slight 7-6 lead but the 49ers scored with 3:29 to play to make it, 7-7.
> Polos put the 'Eaters back in the lead with just over a minute to play but LBSU was able to score with 28 seconds on the clock to send the game to overtime.
> Neither team scored in the first or second overtime periods.
> The 49ers' Jonathan Wong scored the game winning goal with 2:18 showing on the clock in sudden death overtime

UP NEXT: UCI hosts the GCC vs. WWPA Challenge Cup Saturday, Sept. 8. The Anteaters play UCSD at 10:00 a.m. followed by LMU at 3:30 p.m.

NOTES: Jason Evezard finished with four hat tricks this weekend ... Evezard leads UCI with 11 goals this season ... Rivers 17 saves against LBSU was a season-best.