'Eaters Season Starts At Triton Invitational

Saturday, September 7

La Jolla, CA

9:15 a.m.

UC Irvine

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

'Eaters Season Starts At Triton Invitational

September 05, 2024 | Men's Water Polo

By: Jordan Kehoe

IRVINE, Calif. – The UC Irvine men's water polo team kicks off the 2024 campaign at the Triton Invitational with four contests between Sept. 7-8.

Week One Notes | Tournament Central

OPENING WEEKEND
No. 6/7 UC Irvine vs. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Saturday, September 7 | 9:15 AM | Triton Pool

No. 6/7 UC Irvine vs. No. 2/2 California
Saturday, September 7 | 5:15 PM | Triton Pool

No. 6/7 UC Irvine vs. No. 3/3 Stanford
Sunday, September 8 | 1:15 PM | Canyonview Aquatic Center

No. 6/7 UC Irvine vs. Concordia University Irvine
Sunday, September 8 | 5:15 PM | Canyonview Aquatic Center

THIS WEEK'S STORYLINES
> UC Irvine enters the week ranked 6th in the preseason CWPA Weekly Poll and is slated seventh in the preseason Association of College Water Polo Coaches poll
> In 2023, 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 defeated UC Santa Barbara 11-9 in the Big West Championship finale to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 30 years (1993)
> UC Irvine opens the 2024 campaign at the Triton Invitational where they will play four games in two days
> The Anteaters will take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, No. 2/2 California, No. 3/3 Stanford, and CUI
> Claremont-Mudd-Scripps enters the weekend ranked in the top spot of the CWPA Division III poll after taking home the USA Water Polo Division III title last season
> The Stags also won the SCIAC Championship title as well in 2023
> CMS returns four First Team All-SCIAC players which includes Nick Kennedy, Cristian Pang, Aidan Nettekoven, and Luke Weigle
> Pang was named the ACWPC Division III National Player of the Year behind his 84 points and team high 53 goals
> California starts the year ranked second in both the CWPA and AWCPA polls despite winning their third straight NCAA Championship in 2023
> The Golden Bears suffered five losses last season, three of which to UCLA, one to Stanford, and one to USC, but won a shocking 24 contests
> Both Nikoloas Papanikolaou and Adrian Weinberg return from their 2024 Olympic campaigns with Greece and Team USA respectively
> Papanikolaou is a three-time Peter J. Cutino Award winner and ACWPC National Player of the Year (2023)
> Cal also returns three ACWPC All-Americans in Max Casabella, Roberto Valera, and Albert Ponferrada for the 2024 national title defense
> Stanford comes into the opening weekend ranked third in both the CWPA and ACWPC preseason rankings
> The Cardinal finished the season with an 11-10 overtime victory over UCLA in the consolation round of the MPSF tournament
> The two teams met last season in the Triton Invite that saw the Cardinal taking home the 13-6 victory
> Stanford returns Jackson Painter, Riley Pittman, and Ethan Parrish, three 2023 All-American selections
> Concordia University Irvine is picked to finish second in the WWPA in just their second year in the league
> The Golden Eagles advanced to the WWPA Championship finale before they dropped 18-12 to Biola
> CUI returns Harry Bentham, Stan De May, and Jacob Stewart for the 2024 campaign

PLAYER NOTES
> Luka Krstic and Jacob Pyle were named to the All-Big West Preseason team
> UC Irvine returns all six of their all-conference honorees from the 2023 campaign which includes three ACWPC All-Americans. Krstic will lead the attack alongside now sophomores Johann Thrall and Gage Verdegaal. Seniors Tyler Padua and Jack Stevens will continue to help offensively while contributing on the defensive end. Lastly, Pyle will hold down the back line in the cage.
> After their last season of work at their respective high schools, UCI brings in a CIF Player of the Year and three CIF First Teamer's. Ethan Spoon out of Huntington Beach High School was named the CIF Division I Player of the Year. Keegan McGann was awarded CIF Open Division First Team honors while Maddox McEwen and Cole Francisco were honored on the CIF Division 1 First Team.