UCI Closes Out The Regular Season With CUI And No. 5/5 Pepperdine

Wednesday, November 8

Irvine, Calif.

6 p.m.

UC Irvine

Concordia Irvine

UCI Closes Out The Regular Season With CUI And No. 5/5 Pepperdine

November 07, 2023 | Men's Water Polo

By: Jordan Kehoe

IRVINE, Calif. – No. 6/9 UC Irvine will honor six seniors on senior night against Concordia Irvine before closing out the regular season at No. 5/5 Pepperdine.

Week 11 Notes

THIS WEEKEND
No. 6/9 UC Irvine vs. Concordia University Irvine
Wednesday, Nov. 8 | 6:00 p.m. | Anteater Aquatics Complex
Live Stats | Watch

No. 6/9 UC Irvine at No. 5/5 Pepperdine
Saturday, Nov. 11 | 1:00 p.m. | Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool
Live Stats | Watch | Tickets

THIS WEEK'S STORYLINES
>UC Irvine enters the week ranked 6th in the CWPA Weekly Poll, their highest ranking of the season
>UCI is slated ninth in the new Association of College Water Polo Coaches poll
> UC Irvine earned their first winning season in conference play since 2017 when they finished second in the former Golden Coast Conference
>The Anteaters won their first regular season title since the 2000 season where they tied for first place in the MPSF and first outright title since 1987
> UCI suffered their first road loss, 13-8, of the season when they traveled up to Los Angeles to take on the undefeated No. 1 UCLA before taking home the 21-3 road victory at Cal State Fullerton
> The 'Eaters will honor six seniors after the match on Wednesday against Concordia Irvine: Zachary Baxter, Jake Liechty, Dylan Patist, Archer Sauer, Garrett Selby, and Whittaker Worland
> UC Irvine and Concordia University Irvine will meet for just the eleventh time on Wednesday evening
> The Golden Eagles enter the contest with a 10-15 overall record and 2-2 record in the WWPA
> No. 5/5 Pepperdine and UC Irvine met three times last season and the Anteaters took the win in all three games including the first round match-up of the former Golden Coast Conference tournament
> The Waves hold an impressive 23-5 overall record and are 4-1 in the West Coast Conference

NOTES
>Junior Ethan Shipman and freshman Johann Thrall led the game against CSUF with their four goals on four shots
> Jack Stevens notched the hat-trick in the second quarter with three goals on five shots versus the Titans
> Samuel Otta, Gage Verdegaal, and Wyley Dale rounded out the double-figure scoring with two goals each in Fullerton
> Jasper Dale and Baxter each had a game best three assists against the Titans
> Junior Jacob Pyle recorded nine saves, an assist, and four steals over two games
> Stewart Campbell led the scoring at No. 1/1 UCLA with his two goals
> Tyler Padua leads the league with his 12 field blocks in overall games played
> Krstic and Thrall are tied for third in goals scored league games with 13
> Thomas Cass is second in Big West games with his 10 steals
> In conference games, Pyle has the best save percentage (0.553) and goals against average (6.48)