CLAREMONT, Calif. - No. 13 UC Irvine drops to No. 19 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 12-11, in the final game of the Gary Troyer Invitational at the Axelrood Aquatics Center. 

The 'Eaters and Stags battled through all four quarters, with neither team ever leading by more than one. The most goals came in the first quarter, with CMS taking a 5-4 lead at the horn. Each team held the other to three or less tallies for the remaining quarters, with UCI limiting the Stags to just one in the second frame to take a 7-6 lead heading into the third. CMS capitalized on two penalty shots and a power play to tie it up at 9-all heading into the final frame. The Anteaters held the lead, 11-10, until the 3:35 mark as the Stags netted the final two to pull ahead 12-11. 

BY THE NUMBERS: Juniors Tyler Laymon and Johann Thrall led the 'Eaters with two goals each. 

Alex Lopez, Cole Francisco, Brody Luke, Luka Krstic, Jack Stevens, Keegan McGann, and Jayson Hubbard each added one. 

Nick Kennedy netted six for the Stags. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Anteaters and Stags traded goals throughout the first quarter, with Jack Stevens striking first for UCI. Luka Krstic got the next goal for the 'Eaters before CMS netted the equalizer on the power play to tie it up 2-all at the 4:18 mark. The Stags found the back of the net again before Tyler Laymon tied it up again, 3-all, at the 2:40 mark. CMS struck again before Johann Thrall netted one with the man advantage to maintain the tie, 4-4, at the 1:48 mark. The Stags scored the final goal of the period to pull ahead, 5-4, at the horn. 

Cole Francisco opened up the scoring on the power play to tie it up 5-all at the 5:09 mark. The Stags got one back on a penalty shot before the 'Eaters scored the final two of the half, from Laymon with the man advantage (2:55) and Jayson Hubbard (2:06), to take the lead 7-6. 

The Stags netted the first goal of the half on a penalty shot before Keegan McGann regained the lead, 8-7, at the 6:14 mark. CMS found the back of the net on another penalty shot before Johann Thrall scored his second of the game to keep the 'Eaters up, 9-8, at the 0:47 mark. The Stags capitalized on the power play with 0:02 remaining to tie it up, 9-all, heading into the final period of action. 

CMS found the back of the cage first in the fourth quarter to take the lead, 10-9, at the 7:26 mark. The Anteaters scored the next two, with tallies from Brody Luke and Alex Lopez, to take the lead, 11-10, at the 4:45 mark. The Stags netted the final two of the game to pull ahead, 12-11. 

UP NEXT: The 'Eaters are back in action on Friday, Oct. 3, as they host UC Davis for their first Big West match of the season at the Anteater Aquatics Complex at 6 p.m.