Klatt Leads Program To First Winning Season Since 2017 In Inaugural Year At The Helm
December 07, 2022 | Men's Water Polo
IRVINE, Calif. -- UC Irvine men's water polo wrapped up its 2022 season in the semifinals of the Golden Coast Conference Championship tournament.
Overall record: 16-13
Conference record: 2-3
Home record: 7-3
Away record: 1-5
Neutral site record: 8-5
GCC finish: 4th
Postseason: UCI was the No.4 seed and defeated No.5 seed Pepperdine in the first round of the tournament before falling to No.1 seed Pacific in the semifinals.
Final national ranking: 11th
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
First Year At The Helm
Dan Klatt completed his first year as head coach of the men's program, finishing with a winning record of 16-13 (0.552), 2-3 in conference play. Along with doubling the amount of regular season and conference wins from the previous season, Klatt led the Anteaters to their first double-digit win year and highest conference finish (4th) since 2017. The last time UCI won 16 contests was the 2015 season.
In The National Ranks
UCI entered the season ranked 11th in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national poll. Through a year of competition that had several ups and downs, the Anteaters ended ranked 11th overall. During the regular season, UC Irvine ranked as high as 8th and never dropped below the 13th mark.
Neutral Site Warriors
The Anteaters boasted an impressive 8-5 neutral site record after competing in four tournaments. In these 13 contest, five of them went into overtime, the most in recent history of the program.
Player of the Week Nods
Sophomore Ethan Shipman was named the GCC Player of the Week for the week of September 29th after UCI went 3-1 at the MPSF Invitational where the attacker recorded 12 goals on 15 shots and two assists. In the comeback from behind win over then T-No. 16 Fordham, Shipman led all players in goals and shots with six and nine respectively.
Ethan then led all players in goals and shots in the 12-11 win over then No. 9 San Jose State just a few hours later, going a perfect 4-4 at the cage, recording his second hat-trick of the day and fourth of the season. Closing out the weekend, Shipman scored two goals on four shot attempts in the 15-14 overtime against No. 11 Pepperdine.
Postseason Accolades
Three Anteaters were named on the All-GCC Teams. Ethan Shipman led the way with earning Newcomer of the Year honors along with second team honors. Tyler Padua earned honorable mention nods in his second season as an Anteater after being named to the All-Freshman team in his rookie campaign. Jackson Matos's breakout season in his first year landed him on the All-Freshman squad.
Senior Sendoff
The Anteaters graduate four players this season- Nick Rogers, Harrison Land, Grant Chiponis, and Zlatan Nikocevic.
In his first complete season as an Anteater, Rogers has tallied two goals, nine shots, four assists, and five steals.
Land completed his collegiate career with 323 saves in 36 games played. Harrison led his team in steals in 2021 and ranked third on the team in his freshman season. The goalkeeper has also been recognized twice by the Golden Coast Conference for the postseason accolades.
Chiponis was named to the GCC All-Academic team in 2021 as well as in 2019. The utility played in 19 games last season where he recorded 23 goals, 10 steals, and one assist. Grant is a two time all conference academic selection. The utility player has notched 42 goals, five assists, and 10 steals in his time as an Anteater.
Nikocevic was named to the GCC All-Freshman team in 2018 and selected as an All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2021. A consistent offensive presence for the 'Eaters, Zlatan has recorded 134 goals, 73 assists, and 42 steals in his four years. The attacker is third on the team in goals scored this season with 49.
SEASON STAT LEADERS (conference rank)
Goals: Dylan Patist– 55 (T-4th in GCC)
Assists: Ethan Shipman– 29 (5th)
Points: Shipman– 82 (6th)
Steals: Shipman– 22 (8th)
Saves: Jacob Pyle– 128 (4th)
Exclusions Drawn: Tyler Padua– 47
Field Blocks: Pyle– 11 (3rd)
Sprints: Jack Stevens– 63 (1st)
Overall record: 16-13
Conference record: 2-3
Home record: 7-3
Away record: 1-5
Neutral site record: 8-5
GCC finish: 4th
Postseason: UCI was the No.4 seed and defeated No.5 seed Pepperdine in the first round of the tournament before falling to No.1 seed Pacific in the semifinals.
Final national ranking: 11th
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
First Year At The Helm
Dan Klatt completed his first year as head coach of the men's program, finishing with a winning record of 16-13 (0.552), 2-3 in conference play. Along with doubling the amount of regular season and conference wins from the previous season, Klatt led the Anteaters to their first double-digit win year and highest conference finish (4th) since 2017. The last time UCI won 16 contests was the 2015 season.
In The National Ranks
UCI entered the season ranked 11th in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national poll. Through a year of competition that had several ups and downs, the Anteaters ended ranked 11th overall. During the regular season, UC Irvine ranked as high as 8th and never dropped below the 13th mark.
Neutral Site Warriors
The Anteaters boasted an impressive 8-5 neutral site record after competing in four tournaments. In these 13 contest, five of them went into overtime, the most in recent history of the program.
Player of the Week Nods
Sophomore Ethan Shipman was named the GCC Player of the Week for the week of September 29th after UCI went 3-1 at the MPSF Invitational where the attacker recorded 12 goals on 15 shots and two assists. In the comeback from behind win over then T-No. 16 Fordham, Shipman led all players in goals and shots with six and nine respectively.
Ethan then led all players in goals and shots in the 12-11 win over then No. 9 San Jose State just a few hours later, going a perfect 4-4 at the cage, recording his second hat-trick of the day and fourth of the season. Closing out the weekend, Shipman scored two goals on four shot attempts in the 15-14 overtime against No. 11 Pepperdine.
Postseason Accolades
Three Anteaters were named on the All-GCC Teams. Ethan Shipman led the way with earning Newcomer of the Year honors along with second team honors. Tyler Padua earned honorable mention nods in his second season as an Anteater after being named to the All-Freshman team in his rookie campaign. Jackson Matos's breakout season in his first year landed him on the All-Freshman squad.
Senior Sendoff
The Anteaters graduate four players this season- Nick Rogers, Harrison Land, Grant Chiponis, and Zlatan Nikocevic.
In his first complete season as an Anteater, Rogers has tallied two goals, nine shots, four assists, and five steals.
Land completed his collegiate career with 323 saves in 36 games played. Harrison led his team in steals in 2021 and ranked third on the team in his freshman season. The goalkeeper has also been recognized twice by the Golden Coast Conference for the postseason accolades.
Chiponis was named to the GCC All-Academic team in 2021 as well as in 2019. The utility played in 19 games last season where he recorded 23 goals, 10 steals, and one assist. Grant is a two time all conference academic selection. The utility player has notched 42 goals, five assists, and 10 steals in his time as an Anteater.
Nikocevic was named to the GCC All-Freshman team in 2018 and selected as an All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2021. A consistent offensive presence for the 'Eaters, Zlatan has recorded 134 goals, 73 assists, and 42 steals in his four years. The attacker is third on the team in goals scored this season with 49.
SEASON STAT LEADERS (conference rank)
Goals: Dylan Patist– 55 (T-4th in GCC)
Assists: Ethan Shipman– 29 (5th)
Points: Shipman– 82 (6th)
Steals: Shipman– 22 (8th)
Saves: Jacob Pyle– 128 (4th)
Exclusions Drawn: Tyler Padua– 47
Field Blocks: Pyle– 11 (3rd)
Sprints: Jack Stevens– 63 (1st)
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ Men's Water Polo
GK
/ Men's Water Polo
UTL
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
CEN
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
GK
/ Men's Water Polo
UTL
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
UTL
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