OPENING WEEKEND
Triton Invitational Tournament Central
No. 13 UC Irvine at No. 9 UC San Diego
Saturday, Sept. 7 | 12:00 p.m. | Triton Pool
Live Stats

No. 13 UC Irvine vs. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Saturday, Sept. 7 | 4:30 p.m. |Triton Pool

No. 13 UC Irvine vs. TBA
Sunday, Sept. 8 | TBA

No. 13 UC Irvine vs. TBA
Sunday, Sept. 8 | TBA

13th- ranked UCI opens the 2019 campaign at the Triton Invitational Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 7-8) at Canyonview Aquatics Center on the campus of UC San Diego in La Jolla.

The Anteaters take on host No. 9 UC San Diego Saturday at 12 p.m. followed by Claremont Mudd-Scripps at 4:30 p.m. UCI will play two games on Sunday that will be determined based on Saturdays results.

TOURNAMENT STORYLINES

• UCI enters the season ranked 13th in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national poll after finishing 15th in the final poll last year
• The 'Eaters are 53-15 all-time against the Tritons and defeated UCSD 12-11 at last year's Triton Invite in sudden death overtime
• UCSD finished last season with a 20-6 record and won the WWPA Tournament, advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The Tritons beat Long Beach State in the NCAA opening round before falling to Stanford in the semifinals, 16-7
• UCI is 8-0 all-time against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. The last meeting between the two teams came in 2014. The Staggs finished last season with a 16-11 overall record
• The Triton Invitational field features 10 nationally ranked teams including Cal (4), LBSU (T-5), UCSB (T-7), Pepperdine (T-7), UCSD (9), UC Davis (10), UCI (13), LMU (14), Pomona-Pitzer (19) Whittier (RV)
• UCI went 2-2 last year at the Triton Invite, beating UCSD and La Verne and dropping games to Cal and Long Beach State
• The Anteaters were 9-17 last season and made an appearance in the third-place game at the Golden Coast Conference Tournament
• Following this weekends action in La Jolla, UCI will compete in the GCC vs. WWPA Conference Clash Saturday, Sept. 14 in Los Angeles. The 'Eaters play CBU (11:20 a.m.) and LMU (4:20 p.m.)

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)
• Transfers Carson Arnett and Ivan Mercep are expected to make an immediate impact in the field while freshmen Harrison Land and Collin Winters will strengthen the goalie position
• Overall, UCI returns 16 players and welcomes 9 newcomers. The 'Eaters lost 10 letter winners from a year ago
• The 'Eaters will look to replace two time All-American Jack Trush who led UCI in exclusions drawn with 68 and also contributed 41 goals and 11 steals. Starting goalkeeper Byron Rivers was also lost to graduation. Rivers was named to the All-GCC Second Team amassing 186 saves and a 9.60 goals against average
• Head Coach Marc Hunt enters his 15^th season at the helm behind a 197-183 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