CLAREMONT, Calif. - Wyley Dale and Jack Stevens set new career-highs as they lead the 'Eaters over Wagner, 21-10, in the opening game of the Gary Troyer Invitational at the Axelrood Aquatics Center. 

UC Irvine raced out to a 4-0 lead early in the first quarter and never looked back. The Seahawks fought to keep it close, trailing just 6-2 at the end of one period of action. Wagner battled to get within three at the start of the second frame before the Anteaters scored five unanswered to take a 12-4 lead at the half. UCI kept their foot on the gas, scoring four in the third quarter and five in the fourth, while holding Wagner to three in each frame, to secure the 21-10 victory. 

BY THE NUMBERS: Junior Wyley Dale netted a career-high six goals to lead the 'Eaters offense. Senior Jack Stevens recorded a career-best five goals while Junior Johann Thrall notched the hat trick and added four assists for a seven point performance. 

Luka Krstic, Tyler Laymon, and Maddox McEwen each found the back of the net twice while Samuel Otta added one. Senior Zayd Mahmoud recorded 11 saves. 

Ian Conway stopped 13 shots for the Seahawks. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: The 'Eaters jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead at the 5:05 mark. Samuel Otta kicked off the scoring before Luka Krstic and Jack Stevens netted back-to-back penalty shots. Tyler Laymon found the back of the net before the Seahawks got two back to cut the Anteater lead to 4-2 at the 2:25 mark. The 'Eaters got the final goals of the quarter with tallies from Maddox McEwen and Wyley Dale to increase the lead, 6-2, at the end of one. 

Krstic capitalized on a penalty shot before Wagner netted the next two to cut the lead to 7-4 at the 3:55 mark. The 'Eaters went on a 5-0 run to end the half, kicked off with a tally from Johann Thrall at the 3:30 mark. W. Dale found the back of the net three times in a row before Stevens scored the final goal of the half to increase the lead, 12-4. 

Stevens struck first for the 'Eaters before the Seahawks got two back to cut the lead to 13-6 at the 3:11 mark. Thrall found the back of the net before Wagner struck again to make it 14-7 at the 2:25 mark. W. Dale netted one with the man advantage before Thrall scored the final goal of the period to widen the 'Eater lead, 16-7, heading into the final period of action. 

Stevens opened up the scoring in the period once again before McEwen added a tally to increase the lead, 18-7, at the 6:45 mark. Stevens netted his fifth of the game, setting a new career-high, before the Seahawks found the back of the net at the 6:02 mark. UCI and Wagner traded goals over the final minutes of the match, with Laymon netting one before the Seahawks added a tally to make it 20-9 at the 5:14 mark. W. Dale capitalized on the power play and netted his sixth of the game, setting a new career-best, before Wagner got the final goal of the game, sealing the 21-10 victory. 

UP NEXT: The 'Eaters are back in action for the final game of the Gary Troyer Invitational as they take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps this evening at 6:30 p.m at the Axelrood Aquatics Center.