IRVINE, Calif. –  Junior Johann Thrall matched his career high with six goals, but it wasn't enough as the 15th-ranked UC Irvine men's water polo team dropped a narrow 13-12 decision to No. 9 Long Beach State Thursday evening at Anteater Aquatics Complex.
 
The Black & Blue Rivalry match was tightly-contested from the opening sprint. The Anteaters (14-9, 2-2 Big West) took control early, pulling ahead 4-1 late in the first quarter. They stayed out front until the Beach scored three unanswered to make it 8-8 at the half. There were three more ties, while neither team led by more than two over the final 16 minutes.
 
LBSU (14-8, 4-0 Big West) held the two-goal cushion at 13-11 with just over two minutes to go in the fourth period. Alex Lopez brought the 'Eaters back within one with 48 seconds on the clock, but the visitors were able to keep possession and run the clock down.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Junior Johann Thrall powered UCI's offense with a career-high tying six goals. He added one assist to lead all players with seven points. Junior Alex Lopez added two goals, while senior Samuel Otta, junior Wyley Dale, sophomore Ethan Spoon, and sophomore Cole Francisco had one apiece.
 
Senior goalkeeper Zayd Mahmoud finished with a season-best 14 saves.
 
Caleb Francisco, older brother of Cole, paced the Beach with four goals.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: Long Beach State struck first, but UC Irvine responded with four unanswered to pull ahead 4-1 at the 1:32 mark. Thrall recorded a hat trick during that stretch. It continued to go back-and-forth the rest of the way with the Anteaters up 5-3 at the end of the first quarter.
 
The two sides continued to trade goals through the first half of the second period. Mahmoud made a big save on a penalty shot with 3:54 remaining, and Dale found the back of the net on the ensuing possession to give the 'Eaters an 8-5 advantage. The Beach came back with a 3-0 run over the final two-plus minutes to pull even at the half.
 
Thrall scored his fifth goal of the game to start the third frame, but LBSU then struck twice for its first lead since the start of the first quarter. Another tally from Thrall followed by a penalty goal for Long Beach State gave the visitors an 11-10 edge heading into the fourth.
 
In the final frame, Spoon converted on a 6-on-5 to tie it up at 11-all with 6:41 on the clock. The Beach took advantage of a nearly six-minute UCI scoring drought as it widened its lead to 13-11. Lopez then got the Anteaters back on the board with 48 seconds left. With one second on the shot clock, LBSU's attempt forced Mahmoud to make the save, and the ball went out of bounds, giving it back to Long Beach State with 19 seconds remaining. The visitors were able to run the clock out for the 13-12 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine will head to Malibu for a non-conference game at No. 13 Pepperdine on Saturday, Nov. 1. First sprint is set for 1 p.m.