UCI Drops To No. 5/5 Pacific

Saturday, September 21

Los Angeles, CA

1:30 p.m.

UC Irvine

3-5

Pacific

8-0

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
UC Irvine	2	2	1	4	9
Pacific	6	6	1	3	16

UCI Drops To No. 5/5 Pacific

September 21, 2024 | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

By: Jordan Kehoe

LOS ANGELES – The Anteaters could not withstand the strong offensive presence of No. 5/5 Pacific, dropping 16-9 on Saturday afternoon.

Attacker Ethan Shipman totaled a team high three points with two goals and one assist.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Wyley Dale also contributed two goals in the contest
Alex Lopez, Gage Verdegaal, Johann Thrall, Ethan Spoon, and Jayson Hubbard tallied a goal each
Graduate student Jacob Pyle blocked three shots in 16 minutes of action
Senior Zayd Mahmoud played the remaining 16 minutes between the pipes and made four saves
Eight different Anteaters combined for the eight assists
Ethan Spoon continued to remain dominant in center with a game high three drawn exclusions
No. 5/5 Pacific was led by Mihailo Vukazic who recorded seven goals and one assist

SCORING BREAKDOWN

First period: No. 5/5 Pacific scored in two goal spurts broken up by Anteater tallies. Ethan Shipman recorded two goal contributions in the first eight minutes with a goal he skipped into the near side at 4:29 and then assisted on Johann Thrall's (2:14) lofted shot as the Tigers led 6-2.
- Shipman (1) and Thrall (1)
Second period: No. 8/8 UC Irvine saw two balls hit the back of the cage, the first from Alex Lopez (3:49) on a far-side launch and the next from Wyley Dale at 1:04 on flick off the pass from Samuel Otta. UOP converted six goals off drawn exclusions to go up 12-4.
- W. Dale (1) and Lopez (1)
Third period: Both sides bolstered their defense in the third stanza as only two total goals were scored. After the Anteaters claimed possession on a UOP turnover, Gage Verdegaal caught the Tiger's goalkeeper off his line as the UCI attacker lobbed the ball over his head at 7:35. Zayd Mahmoud came up big for the 'Eaters making a crucial five-meter penalty save on No. 5/5 Pacific's next possession. The Tigers dented the twine with 0:50 left to go up, 13-5.
- Verdegaal (1)
Fourth period: UCI saw four different players score including the first career goal from Jayson Hubbard (5:06). Despite settling in on the offensive end, it was not enough as No. 5/5 Pacific prevailed 16-9.
- W. Dale (1), Hubbard (1), Shipman (1), and Spoon (1)