IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine men's water polo dropped its home opener to top-ranked Stanford, 16-7, Sunday afternoon at Anteater Aquatics Complex.

UCI falls to 6-7 on the season while the Cardinal improve to 12-1 overall.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Ivan Mercep and Bryant Joudrie each scored twice
> Carson Arnett, Grant Chiponis, and Jason Evezard added one goal apiece
> Joudrie also dished out two assists and grabbed two steals
> Collin Winters and Chandler Mankins split time in the net, with Winters recording five saves in 24 minutes of action. Mankins played the final eight minutes in the cage and only allowed one goal
> The Cardinal would capitalize on 6-out-of-9 powerplays and 3-out-of-3 five-meter penalty attempts. UCI went 2-7 on extra-man opportunities and scored on 1-2 five-meter penalty shots
> The 'Eaters held a slight 32-30 advantage in shots
> Stanford's Ben Hallock had a game-high three goals

TURNING POINTS
Quarter One
> The Cardinal took a 4-1 lead despite Anteaters holding an advantage in shots, 10-8
> Ivan Mercep drilled in the lone goal for the 'Eaters at 5:08

Quarter Two
> Stanford extended their lead over UCI, 9-2, at the half
> Joudrie netter the 'Eaters second goal at 3:38, assisted by Foster Hoose

Quarter Three
> Mercep added his second goal of the game at 5:13 on a UCI powerplay, trimming the Stanford lead, 11-3
> Joudrie followed firing in a goal from distance with 3:47 left in the quarter
> Stanford would extend its lead, 15-4, heading into the fourth quarter

Quarter Four
> Arnett scored on a pass from Joudrie at 6:07 to make it a 15-5 game
> After a Stanford goal, Evezard would convert on a five-meter penalty shot to score his first goal of the day (1:43)
> Chiponis capped the scoring with a goal inside the final minute to make it 16-7 game

UP NEXT
> UCI opens its Golden Coast Conference slate at home against Pepperdine on Friday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m.