IRVINE, Calif. – No. 9/9 UC Irvine knocked off the undefeated Big West leader No. 7/7 UC Davis, 13-12, in an overtime battle in an instant classic match.
 
Both goalkeepers went save for save to keep the game even through 4:51 minutes of overtime.
 
Junior Jack Stevens scored the game winner for the Anteaters off a spinning backhanded move with 1:09 left on the clock in the final extra period.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Reigning Big West Player of the Week Luka Krstic led all players with four goals on six shots
• The sophomore Krstic also dished out a game high three assists and stole the ball once
• Krstic has notched a hat-trick in three consecutive games
• Stevens also poured in a hat-trick (3-3) with his third goal being the game winner
• Tyler Padua, Jake Liechty, and Johann Thrall rounded out the scoring for the Anteaters, each tallying two goals
• Junior Garrett Selby played the first 16 minutes in the cage where he stopped four shots and added an assist
• Junior Jacob Pyle entered into the net at the half, closing out the game with eight saves
• Liechty and Gage Verdegaal dished out two assists each
• Liechty also led all players with three steals
• No. 7/7 UC Davis was led by Tyler Mrkaich who recorded four goals on nine shots, one assist, and one steal

 
SCORING BREAKDOWN

• First period: No. 9/9 UC Irvine opened up the scoring before No. 7/7 UC Davis knotted the game. The Anteaters went up by one and then extended their lead off the steal and quick three passes for the far sided shot. The Aggies cut their deficit to one to end the action, 3-2.
  • Krstic (1), Stevens (1), and Thrall (1)
• Second period: UCD came out the of the break with some fight, scoring on two consecutive possessions. Catching everyone off guard, Thrall bounced a dagger in the narrow gap between the post and the Aggie goalkeeper. UC Davis added three more goals in the period to take the lead, 7-5
  • Krstic (1) and Thrall (1)
• Third period: After the Aggies scored one more at the beginning of the second half, UC Irvine went on a 3-0 run to close in on UCD's advantage. UC Davis went on to score to more goals to stay ahead 10-8.
  • Krstic (1), Patist (1), and Stevens (1)
• Fourth period: In a true come back from behind effort, the Anteaters compiled four goals in the eight-minute period. Liechty's second goal of the game at 0:54 knotted both teams at 12-12 to force extra time.
  • Liechty (2), Krstic (1), Padua (1)
• Fifth period (OT1): Neither team was able to get on the board as strong defense was key. Both goalkeepers dueled by going save for save to keep the 12-12 deadlock.
• Sixth period (OT2): Defense on both sides remained the name of the game in the high-pressure situation. After an Anteater shot hit off the goal post, the clock reset allowing UCI to keep possession of the ball. Liechty fed Stevens in the center who fought off two Aggie defenders on his spinning maneuver to win the game for UC Irvine, 13-12.
  • Stevens (1)

 
NOTES

• UC Irvine will record their first winning season in conference play since 2017 when they finished second in the former Golden Coast Conference
• UCI earned their first win over UC Davis since the 2014 campaign
• Krstic leads the conference in goals scored in Big West games and points with 13 and 18, respectively
• Padua is the league leader in overall field blocks (12)
• Thomas Cass and Stevens are tied for the top spot for steals in a conference game (9)
• The Anteaters are in position to win their first regular season title since the 2000 season where they tied for first place in the MPSF

 
UP NEXT
The Anteaters will head up the road to Los Angeles to face the No. 1 ranked UCLA in a Friday night showdown (Nov. 3).