SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Two hat-tricks from the UC Irvine men's water polo offense led the Anteaters to a 8-7 win at No. 10/10 UC Santa Barbara.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Sophomore Luka Krstic and freshman Johann Thrall led the way for the 'Eaters each scoring three goals
• Krstic and Thrall have notched hat-tricks in two consecutive games
• Dylan Patist and Jack Stevens contributed the other two UCI goals
• 23 goals is the most scored by UC Irvine this season
• Junior Garrett Selby made the start in the cage, recording 11 saves and two steals
• Selby's 11 saves ties his career high that was first set in the 15-8 victory over LMU back on Sept. 30
• Krstic and Stewart Campbell dished out team bests in assists, two each
• Samuel Otta and Krstic each had two steals
• No. 10/10 UC Santa Barbara was led by Logan Stutter who recorded two goals on five shots

 
SCORING BREAKDOWN

• First period: No. 10/10 UC Santa Barbara struck first in the contest, but UCI scored on the following possession courtesy of Thrall and then again quickly after drawing an exclusion. The Gauchos added one more to their column to tie the game, 2-2.
  • Krstic (1) and Thrall (1)
• Second period: The Anteaters squeaked a goal in early in the period to take the lead back, but saw that erased on the following UCSB offensive possession. UCI went on a 3-0 run to close out the half with the lead, 6-3.
  • Krstic (2) and Thrall (2)
• Third period: No. 9/9 UC Irvine drew an exclusion in the latter part of the period. The Anteaters wrote up a play during their timeout and Patist was able to execute to end the UCI scoring drought. UCSB scored two goals over the eight minutes, but UCI still led, 7-5.
  • Patist (1)
• Fourth period: The Gauchos put one away at 5:38 to cut their deficit in half. Feeling the pressure, UCI attacked by feeding Stevens in the center for the lofted put in. UC Santa Barbara found their way back on the offensive end with their final goal with 29 seconds remaining, but it was not enough as UCI prevailed, 8-7.
  • Stevens (1)

 
UP NEXT
UCI hosts UC Davis on Saturday October 28 at the Anteater Aquatics Complex at 12 p.m. The Anteaters will be commemorating the life of the late Peter Campbell prior to the game as they dedicate the new scoreboard in his honor.