IRVINE, Calif, - No. 16 UC Irvine men's water polo upset No. 10 UC Santa Barbara, 10-9, on Saturday afternoon at Dos Pueblos High School. 

The 'Eaters jumped out to a 2-0 lead to start the match and held control for most of the game. They held UCSB to just one tally in the first to hold the lead, 2-1. The Big West rivals traded goals throughout the rest of the game, each netting three in the second period, with the 'Eaters holding a 5-4 lead at halftime. The Gauchos and Anteaters both matched their totals from the second to leave UCI up, 8-7, heading into the fourth. UCSB netted the first of the final frame to tie it up, 8-all, before Ethan Spoon scored the go-ahead goal and Cole Francisco widened the lead, 10-8, with 3:29 remaining. The Gauchos netted one more, but it wasn't enough as UCI held on for the 10-9 victory. 

BY THE NUMBERS: Sophomore Cole Francisco led the 'Eaters with two goals and two assists for a four point performance. Junior Johann Thrall netted two and added one assist for a three point day. 

Samuel Otta and Luka Krstic each added two goals for the Anteaters. Jasper Dale and Ethan Spoon each added a tally.

Danilo Dragovic led the Gauchos with four goals. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: Luka Krstic capitalized on an early power play to give the 'Eaters a 1-0 lead at the 7:19 mark. Krstic found the back of the net once again to double UCI's lead, 2-0, at the 3:56 mark. The Gauchos netted the final goal of the period at the 3:34 mark to cut the lead, 2-1. 

Johann Thrall found the back of the net to increase the Anteater lead, 3-1, at the 5:32 mark. The Gauchos capitalized on a penalty shot at the 3:31 mark and a power play at the 2:45 mark to tie it up at 3-all. Samuel Otta capitalized on the man advantage to regain the lead, 4-3, at the 2:18 mark. UCSB tied it up once again, 4-all, as they took advantage of another power play at the 1:45 mark. Thrall recorded the final tally of the half on the man advantage with just 0:02 left to take the lead, 5-4, at the horn. 

Otta found the back of the net first to widen the lead, 6-4, at the 6:23 mark. The Gauchos netted the next two to tie it up, 6-all, at the 5:13 mark. Jasper Dale regained the lead, 7-6, at the 3:20 mark before UCSB found the equalizer on the power play at the 1:42 mark. Cole Francisco netted the final goal of the period to put the 'Eaters back up, 8-7, heading into the fourth. 

The Gauchos netted the first goal of the period on the man advantage at the 7:28 mark to tie it up again, 8-all. Ethan Spoon scored the go-ahead goal at the 7:03 mark to put the 'Eaters up, 9-8. Francisco found the back of the net to extend the lead, 10-8, at the 3:29 mark. UCSB got one back at the 3:02 mark, but the Anteaters held on to complete the 10-9 upset.