IRVINE, Calif. - No. 16 UC Irvine men's water polo team defeated No. 7 San Jose State, 11-9, on Senior Day and in their final home game of the regular season on Sunday afternoon at Anteater Aquatics Complex. 

The Spartans and 'Eaters traded goals over the first quarter until Wyley Dale converted on the power play to end the period and put UCI up, 3-2. UC Irvine and San Jose State went goal-for-goal once again to start the second frame. The Spartans netted two in a row to pull ahead, 5-4, before the Anteaters capitalized on a penalty shot to tie it up, 5-all, at the horn. UCI added two tallies to open the third and pull ahead, 7-5. San Jose State netted two of their own to close out the period and tie it back up, 7-all. The Anteaters scored a quick goal to pull ahead before the Spartans netted the equalizer to tie it back up, 8-all, with 5:59 remaining. The 'Eaters scored three more goals to pull ahead and increase their lead 11-8. San Jose State got one back before the horn to end the match, 11-9. 

BY THE NUMBERS: Junior Johann Thrall led the 'Eaters with three goals and one assist for a four point outing. Senior Luka Krstic and Junior Wyley Dale each added two tallies. 

Alex Lopez, Samuel Otta, Brody Luke and Ethan Spoon each added one goal. 

Sam Keightley led the Spartans with four goals. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Spartans got on the board first before Johann Thrall found the back of the net at the 6:45 mark to tie it up at one. San Jose State capitalized on a five-meter attempt before Alex Lopez netted one at the 4:23 mark to tie it back up at 2-all.  Wyley Dale added a tally on the man advantage to put the 'Eaters up, 3-2, at the end of the first period. 

The Spartans capitalized on a power play to tie it back up, 3-all, at the 6:27 mark. Samuel Otta found the back of the net to regain the lead, 4-3, at the 6:08 mark. San Jose State netted one on the man advantage before adding another tally to pull ahead, 5-4, at the 0:49 mark. W. Dale converted on a five-meter attempt to tie it back up, 5-all, at the end of the half. 

Ethan Spoon found the back of the net to put the 'Eaters up, 6-5, at the 7:44 mark. Brody Luke added a tally at the 4:19 mark to increase the 'Eaters lead, 7-5. The Spartans netted one before converting on a five-meter attempt to tie it back up, 7-all, at the end of the third. 

Thrall won the opening sprint and quickly found the back of the net at the 7:48 mark to put the 'Eaters ahead, 8-7. The Spartans netted the equalizer at the 5:59 mark to tie it back up, 8-all. Thrall capitalized on a penalty shot at the 5:35 mark before Luka Krstic added a tally on the power play to put the 'Eaters ahead, 10-8. Krstic added another tally with 0:21 remaining to increase the lead, 11-8. The Spartans got one back with 0:04 left on the clock to end the match with the 'Eaters up, 11-9. 

UP NEXT: The 'Eaters travel to No. 13 LMU on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m. for their final game of the regular season.