Johann Thrall
8
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps CMS (0-1)
18
Winner UC Irvine UCI (1-0)
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps CMS
(0-1)
8
Final
18
UC Irvine UCI
(1-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps CMS 3 3 1 1 8
UC Irvine UCI 5 5 5 3 18

Game Recap: Men's Water Polo | | Jordan Kehoe

Consistent Offense Leads UCI Over CMS, 18-8

LA JOLLA, Calif. – No. 6/7 UC Irvine opened their season with an 18-8 victory over the reigning DIII national champions, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
 
The Anteater offensive remained constant through the first three period as they saw five goals per eight minutes find the back of the net and clamped down on defense in the second half to pull away for the win. UCI blocked a shocking nine shots from the field in addition to nine combined saves from the goalkeeping effort.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
  • Senior Jack Stevens and sophomore Johann Thrall notched hat-tricks
  • Tyler Padua, Ethan Spoon, and Wyley Dale each recorded two goals in the contest
  • Six other Anteaters found the back of the cage
  • Spoon, Cole Francisco, and Brody Luke registered their first career goals
  • UCI converted 18 of their 36 shots (0.500)
  • Senior Jacob Pyle played the first three periods between the pipes stopping six shots
  • Senior Zayd Mahmoud blocked three shots in eight minutes in the cage
  • The Anteaters shared the ball well with Francisco, Samuel Otta, Luka Krstic, and Gage Verdegaal tallying two assists apiece
  • Five Anteaters recorded two steals each
  • Stevens drew a game high four exclusions with Padua right behind him with three
  • UCI held CMS to zero power play goals (0-8)
  • Claremont-Mudd-Scripps was led by Nick Kennedy who recorded four goals on five shots
 
SCORING BREAKDOWN
  • First period: No. 6 UC Irvine scored in twos to start the opening action and then found a way to find the back of the cage with 25 seconds left in the period. Thomas Cass (6:48) opened the scoring on a power play chance, then Jack Stevens (5:01, 4:15) found the back of the net twice with a shot at the top of the formation and then a five-meter penalty conversion to help the Anteaters lead, 5-3.
  • Second period: Jackson Matos (7:38) made his return to the pool known with a fiery shot that banged in off the post just 22 seconds into the second stanza. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps responded with a goal of their own right before Cole Francisco recorded his first career tally at 5:16 with a near side sneak. A five-meter shot from Wyley Dale (1:31) capped the first half scoring for UCI, 10-6.
    • W. Dale (1), Francisco (1), Luka Krstic (1), Matos (1), and Thrall (1)
  • Third period: The Stags crept within three, 10-7, at 6:58, but it was all Anteaters the rest of the way. Freshman Ethan Spoon (3:44, 0:58) had a monstrous third period, notching his first career goal on a ripping shot from center and then received the ball from Francsico for the put-in to give the 'Eaters the 15-7 advantage.
    • Spoon (2), Padua (1), Stevens (1), and Thrall (1)
  • Fourth period: UCI's defense stayed clamped down while continuing to roar on offense. At 5:26, Brody Luke tipped the ball past the goalie for his first career put-in, then with 31 seconds left, Tyler Laymon wooed the crowd with his one-touch deflection into the cage off the pass from Ethan Shipman as the Anteaters claimed the victory, 18-8.
    • W. Dale (1), Laymon (1), and Luke (1)
 
UP NEXT
The Anteaters continue opening weekend action with a meeting with the defending national champions, No. 2/2 California, at 5:15 p.m.
 
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