Box Score Box Score
LA JOLLA, Calif. – No. 12 UC Irvine men's water polo (2-2) falls in their final game of the Triton Invitational, 12-6, to T-No. 5 Long Beach (3-1).
UC Irvine trailed early, before earning their first point of the game, down 2-1, with 3:39 remaining in the period.
After a regroup before the start of the second quarter, the Anteaters came out strong, scoring in the first 37 seconds to tie the contest at two apiece. T-No. 5 Long Beach register three straight goals to reclaim the lead. UCI was able to put two more on the board bringing it within one, 5-4, headed into the half.
The Beach slam another two goals into the back of the cage in the span of a minute. UC Irvine is able to deposit their fifth goal of the game, trailing 7-5, with 2:16 in the third period.
The Anteaters earn their final goal of the match just two minutes into the final eight minutes of play. Despite UC Irvine's offensive attempts, five unanswered goals for T-No.5 Long Beach earns the Beach a 12-6 win in the final day of the Triton Invitational.
Leading the charge for the 'Eaters, senior
Zlatan Nikocevic netted two goals for the Blue and Gold. Sophomores
Ethan Shipman and
Dylan Patist along with freshman
Jasper Dale each registered a goal. Freshman
Luka Krstic was able to notch his first career goal as an Anteater.
Sophomore
Jacob Pyle earned his fourth start of the season making five saves over 24 minutes. In the fourth period, sophomore Zayd Mamoud made his second appearance of the day.
UCI will host UCLA for their home opener on Saturday Sept. 10 at 2 p.m. at the Anteater Aquatic Complex.