IRVINE, Calif. – In an energetic match that came down to a thrilling fourth quarter, No. 9/8 UC Irvine dropped 12-9 to top-ranked UCLA inside the Anteater Aquatics Complex with 481 fans in attendance.
 
UCI's offense was powered by sophomore Gage Verdegaal who notched his first hat-trick of the season while also assisting on one other score.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Cole Francisco and Stewart Campbell had multi-goal games with two apiece
• Luka Krstic and Tyler Padua rounded out the Anteater scoring effort
• Graduate student Jacob Pyle went the distance in the cage, matching a season high 11 saves
• Ethan Shipman dished out a team high two assists
• UCI registered nine field blocks in the contest
• Six Anteaters tallied a steal
• Both teams earned eight power plays where UCI held the slight 3-2 conversion advantage
• Tyler Laymon held steady on the offensive end drawing a game high four exclusions
• No. 1/1 UCLA was led by Wade Sherlock who recorded two goals on four shots and two assists

 
SCORING BREAKDOWN

• First period: No. 9/8 UC Irvine saw the first score of the game at 6:55 when Johann Thrall passed the ball into Tyler Padua at the center position for a close-range flick before No. 1/1 UCLA evened the game at 4:40. Both teams remained deadlocked until a far side shot from the Bruins went into the cage with six seconds on the clock, 2-1.
  • Padua (1)
• Second period: The Bruins pulled ahead after three unanswered hit the back of the cage. UCI registered their first goal of the period when Gage Verdegaal (2:39) struck from the far side, then UCLA scored again on the next possession. Stewart Campbell (1:39, 0:39) carried the offense on the Anteaters next two attempts, launching from long distance and bouncing it in on the nearside, to close the game to 6-4.
  • Campbell (2) and Verdegaal (1)
• Third period: Freshman Cole Francisco lit up in the third stanza with a fiery far side missile at 5:24 and then converting a five-meter attempt at 1:10. No. 1/1 UCLA found a way to get the ball into the cage three times to hold their lead at 9-6.
  • Francsico (2)
• Fourth period: In a fourth quarter rally, No. 9/8 UC Irvine brought the game within two points twice. Shooting cross-cage, Luka Krstic saw his ball barely cross the goal line at 5:20 to bring the game to 10-8. Gage Verdegaal (2:36) went for the catch and shoot as the Anteaters crept to 11-9. The Bruins went to a 7-on-6 at the end of the contest and got lucky with their shot-clock shot to win 12-9.
  • Verdegaal (2) and Krstic (1)

NOTES

• Nine goals are the most allowed by the Bruin defense so far in 2024
• Three goals is the smallest margin of victory in 2024 for No. 1/1 UCLA, previous closest was six goals
• This was the smallest margin of defeat in the series history since Oct. 23, 2010 (L, 11-8)
• UCI gave up 12 goals, the fewest against the Bruins since the 9-8 Anteater victory on Sept. 30, 2017

 
UP NEXT
The Anteaters make the trip up to No. 3/3 USC for a Saturday matinee (12 p.m.) inside the Uytengsu Aquatics Center.