IRVINE, Calif. – Attacker Gage Verdegaal paced the UC Irvine offense in the 11-7 win over No. 16/16 California Baptist with his hat-trick.
 
The Anteaters finished with a 2-1 record in group A action and have won two straight contests.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Verdegaal recorded his fifth hat-trick this morning in the winning effort
• Stewart Campbell and Johann Thrall each tallied two goals in the contest
• Four other Anteaters had one goal apiece
• UCI was able to convert on four power play opportunities
• Garrett Selby made the start in the cage, blocking eight shots while adding one assist and one steal
• Selby improves to 2-0 on the weekend
• Freshman Tyler Laymon led the team with two assists
• Luka Krstic and Johann Thrall were game leaders with three steals
• No. 16/16 California Baptist was led by Marcus Lodewyk who recorded two goals on three shots and dished out three assists

 
SCORING BREAKDOWN

• First period: Both teams exchanged goals to keep it close. Campbell beat the outstretched hands of two defenders to give UCI the 3-2 advantage.
  • Campbell (1), Stevens (1), Verdegaal (1)
• Second period: The Anteaters kept No. 16/16 California Baptist off the board in the second period. UCI was crafty in their goal scoring as Verdegaal went one-on-one with the Lancer keeper and Campbell bended it like Beckham, hitting just inside the far post to keep the lead, 5-2.
  • Campbell (1) and Verdegaal (1)
• Third period: No. 9/9 UC Irvine put in two more balls into the cage before CBU could add one halfway through the period. Verdegaal placed one more into the cage to keep the 'Eaters ahead, 8-3.
  • Krstic (1), Padua (1), and Verdegaal (1)
• Fourth period: CBU used turnovers from the Anteaters to capitalize at the cage. Despite recording four goals in the final stanza, UCI still kept their lead with their additional three goals to win, 11-7.
  • Thrall (2) and Otta (1)

 
UP NEXT
UCI will take on the second-place team in group B at 2 p.m. at the Anteater Aquatics Complex.