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No. 14 UC Irvine (6-10, 0-2) at No. 4 UC Santa Barbara (17-5-1, 1-1)
Saturday, Nov. 2 | 12:00 p.m. | Campus Pool – Santa Barbara, Calif.
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The 14th ranked UC Irvine Anteaters return to conference action when the travel to face fourth-ranked UCLA Saturday, Nov. 2 at 12 p.m. at Campus Pool in Santa Barbara.

WEEKEND STORYLINES

• UCI slipped to No. 14 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national poll after ranking as high as No. 9. The 'Eaters started the season ranked at No. 13
• The 'Eaters dropped to 6-10 on the season after falling to No. 2 UCLA last weekend. UCI will look to break a seven-game losing streak and win its first GCC match this weekend
• UCI and No. 4 UCSB will square off for the first time this season. The Gauchos are 17-5 overall and 1-1 in conference. UCSB has a conference win over LBSU and a loss against Pacific. UCSB has won two-straight games
• The 'Eaters dropped a 14-9 decision to the Gauchos last season. UCI is 4-6 in its last 10 meetings with the Gauchos.
• The Gauchos are led in scoring by Boris Jovanovic and Ivan Gvozdanovic with 78 and 48 goals, respectively. Gvozdanovic has a team=best 25 assists and 37 steals
• In goal, UCSB's Tiago Bonchristiano has 149 saves for a .558 save percentage
• Head coach Marc Hunt earned his 200^th career win against Cal Baptist (Sept. 14)
• Junior Jason Evezard set a new single-game school record against CBU scoring nine goals

LAST WEEK

• UCI dropped a non-conference tilt to No. 2 UCLA, 16-7
• Bryant Joudrie led the 'Eaters with two goals while Chandler Mankins played three quarters in the cage logging two saves
• UCI fell behind early trailing 12-3 at the half
• The Anteaters added four goals in the second half but could not stop the powerful Bruin attack and ultimately fell, 16-7
• The Bruins goalie made 14 stops in goal

SEASON TOP PERFORMERS

• Evezard leads the Anteaters with 42 points (33 goals and nine assists) which ranks 8^th in the GCC
• Bryant Joudrie has 15 goals on the season and leads the team in assists (21) and steals (16)  
• Jon Polos has drawn a team-high 25 exclusions and has 43 goals
• Casey Lynton, Ivan Mercep and Zlatan Nikocevic are also in double-figures with 14, 13 and 12 goals apiece
• Harrison Land has totaled 106 saves for a .488 save percentage while Collin Winters has 34 saves in seven games played
• UCI is averaging 8.88 goals per game while allowing opponents 11.50 goals per game
• The 'Eaters are shooting .277 on the season

MORE ON THE ANTEATERS

• UC Irvine returns three of its four leading scorers from a year ago including top-scorer and GCC Newcomer of the Year Jason Evezard (64 goals). GCC Honorable Mention selection Casey Lynton returns as the team's leader in assists (28) and steals (43). He also produced 34 goals last season. Seniors Jon Polos and Bryant Jourdie each contributed 24 and 22 goals, respectively
• Other top returners include All-GCC Freshman Team honoree Zlatan Nikocevic (17 goals, 12 assists), seniors Ian Fleenor (12 goals, 13 assists), Foster Hoose (11 steals, four goals) and Sven Davidson (7 steals, three goals)
• Overall, UCI returns 16 players and welcomes 9 newcomers. The 'Eaters lost 10 letter winners from a year ago
• Head Coach Marc Hunt enters his 15^th season at the helm behind a 201-185 career record.
• Fans will get seven chances to see the Anteaters play at home including their home opener against last year's NCAA runner-up Stanford on Oct. 13