No. 13 ‘Eaters Host Concordia, Compete in MPSF Invitational

Wednesday, September 22

Irvine, Calif.

7:00 PM

UC Irvine

Concordia (Calif.)

No. 13 ‘Eaters Host Concordia, Compete in MPSF Invitational

September 21, 2021 | Men's Water Polo

By: Sarah Zetlmeisl

FOLLOW THE ANTEATERS
No. 13 UC Irvine (4-2) vs. Concordia (Irvine) (1-4)
Wednesday, Sept. 22 | 7 p.m. | Anteater Aquatics Center
Live stats | Video

MPSF INVITATIONAL
No. 13 UC Irvine (4-2) vs. No. 5 UC Santa Barbara (11-2)
Friday, Sept. 24 | 6 p.m. | Legends Aquatics Center

Saturday, Sept. 25
TBD

Saturday, Sept. 25

TBD
Sunday, Sept. 26
TBD

13^th-ranked UCI preps for a busy week. The Anteaters host Concordia Irvine Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. before heading north to compete in the three-day MPSF Invitational hosted by Cal Friday, Sept. 24- Sunday, Sept. 26. UCI begins action in the tournament with a non-conference matchup against No. 5 UCSB.

STORYLINES
- UCI entered the season ranked 13^th in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national poll and remained No. 13 after the past week
- The Anteaters are 4-2 on the season, with losses coming against top-ranked UCLA and No.11 Princeton in overtime
- Zlatan Nikocevic leads the Anteaters with 19 goals on the season
- Harrison Land has started all six games in goal and has 53 saves on the season
- After returning to the pool for the first time since 2019, the Anteaters opened the season 2-0 with wins against Chapman and Redlands
- Five Anteaters scored goals in their UCI debuts including Dylan Patist (6), Stewart Campbell (5), Thomas Cass (2), Archer Sauer (1), and Tyler Padua (1)
- UCI returns only 11 players from the 2019 squad as the 2021 team features 18 new Anteaters who will see action for the first time this season
- The Anteaters play eight regular season games at home as well as host the 2021 GCC Tournament in November for the first time since 2017
- UCI was ranked sixth in the GCC preseason poll
- Head coach Marc Hunt begins his 17^th season at the helm. He has amassed over 200 wins in 15 seasons and has a 204-199 (.506) overall record

WEEKEND REWIND
> UCI went to overtime in a close battle with No. 11 Princeton before ultimately falling, 12-10
> The game remained tied, 10-10, after regulation as the Tigers were able to score a goal in both overtime periods to seal the win
> Harrison Land made 11 saves in goal and grabbed three steals
> Zlatan Nikocevic led the 'Eaters with three goals

AGAINST THE EAGLES
> UCI is 7-1 all-time against the Eagles and has won the last six games
> The two teams last met in Nov. 2019 as UCI earned a 16-5 victory
> CUI is 1-4 on the season with its only win coming against Riverside City College
> The Eagles will play Westcliff at 1:30 p.m. before meeting the Anteaters at 7 p.m.

AGAINST THE GAUCHOS
> UCSB is 11-2 on the season with its only two losses coming against No. 1 UCLA. Both losses were by two goals
> UCI has dropped its last three games against the Gauchos. The Anteaters last win came in 2017 by a score of 11-8
> UCI and UCSB will meet later in the season for a conference game on Oct. 30

RETURNING 'EATERS
UC Irvine returns three all-conference players from the 2019 season including second team all-conference honoree senior Casey Lynton. Lynton was second on the team in goals (26), assists (21) and steals (21). He started every game for the 'Eaters in 2019 and has tallied 60 career goals.

Sophomore Chad Gornay and sophomore goalkeeper Harrison Land, who were both name on the GCC All-Freshman Team in 2019, also return for the 'Eaters. Gornay saw action in every game and scored nine goals, dished out 10 assists and drew eight exclusions.

Land started 16 games in goal, tallying 139 saves, good for fourth in the conference as a freshman. He finished his first year campaign with a .471 save percentage and a 9.75 goals against average.

Zlatan Nikocevic will also provide experience he finished the 2019 season with 18 goals while veterans Ivan Mercep and Carson Arnett had 13 and eight, respectively.

At center, Grant Chiponis and Kiyan Mohebbizadeh are expected to provide force and improve on their performances from the 2019 season.

Michael Sweica will also provide veteran leadership and depth to the talented Anteater team.

NEW FACES
The UCI roster will look almost entirely different with the addition of 18 new Anteaters. Joining Land in goal is newcomer Zayd Mahmoud, a USA National Youth Team player. Dylan Patist, Tyler Padua, Jacob Pyle and Nikola Ilic are also expected to make an immediate impact on the roster.

The new faces also include assistant coaches Bojan Hrlec and Randy Galza. Hrlec, a UCI alum, returns to his alma mater after coaching several club teams in the area. Hrlec was an All-American for the 'Eaters and graduated on the Dean's List in 2014. Galza joins the staff as a goalkeeper coach. He has several years of experience developing some of the top goalkeepers in the area.

UP NEXT
UCI hosts Westcliff Thursday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m.