IRVINE, Calif. – The seventh-ranked UC Irvine men's water polo team came away with another one-goal victory, defeating No. 13 California Baptist, 15-14, in their second game of the UCI Invitational Friday afternoon at Anteater Aquatics Complex.
 
The 'Eaters improved to 2-0 on the young season, while the Lancers dropped to 1-1.
 
It was a tightly-contested match-up that saw seven ties. UC Irvine broke a 9-9 deadlock with a penalty goal from Cole Francisco midway through the third frame and stayed out front the rest of the way. CBU kept it close, never trailing by more than two in the second half.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Cole Francisco finished with a game-high four goals on six shots. Gage Verdegaal added a hat trick, converting on all three of his attempts. The rest of the scoring was spread out with eight other Anteaters notching one goal. Zayd Mahmoud tallied seven saves.
 
Alex Righetti, Wyatt Bugbee, and Andrea Nuzzo had three goals apiece to pace California Baptist. Tanner McCreary and Trent De Leuuw split time in the cage, finishing with five saves each.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine started the scoring with an Alex Lopez goal at the 5:29 mark. California Baptist answered on the ensuing possession, and the two teams continued to go back-and-forth over the next three minutes. The Anteaters created some separation in the final minute with Wyley Dale and Francisco finding the back of the net for a 5-3 lead.
 
The Lancers erased the deficit in the first three minutes of the second period, scoring three times for a 6-5 edge with 5:15 remaining. Ethan Spoon then came up with a big goal to knot it at 6-all. The 'Eaters kept the momentum, outscoring CBU, 3-1, down the stretch with Jack Stevens, Jasper Dale, and W. Dale finding the back of the cage to give the home team a 9-7 advantage.
 
The third period started similar to the second with California Baptist scoring the first two goals to tie it up at 9-9. Francisco then converted a penalty shot and Jayson Hubbard followed with a powerplay goal at the 3:03 mark. CBU responded with four seconds on the clock to make it a one-goal game (11-10) heading into the fourth.
 
Francisco netted his fourth goal of the afternoon to start the scoring in the final period. After the Lancers pulled back within one, Verdegaal and Luka Krstic got on the board to put the 'Eaters on top, 14-11, with 2:36 left to play. CBU made it interesting with two goals in a 26-second span, but a late tally from Verdegaal lifted UCI to the 15-14 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine returns to Anteater Aquatics Complex tomorrow for the final day of the UCI Invitational. The 'Eaters are set to face Cal State Fullerton (11:30 a.m.) and Concordia (6 p.m.).
 
#7 UC Irvine 15, #13 CBU 14
August 29, 2025  |  Anteater Aquatics Complex (Irvine, Calif.)
CBU     3 – 4 – 3 – 4 = 14
UCI      5 – 4 – 2 – 4 = 15

SCORING:
CBU – Alex Righetti 3, Wyatt Bugbee 3, Andrea Nuzzo 3, Rafa Martinez 2, Luca Imbriolo 1, Phil Portisch 1, Collin White 1

UCI – Cole Francisco 4, Gage Verdegaal 3, Alex Lopez 1, Samuel Otta 1, Wyley Dale 1, Jasper Dale 1, Ethan Spoon 1, Luka Krstic 1, Jack Stevens 1, Jayson Hubbard 1

SAVES:
CBU – Tanner McCreary 5, Trent De Leuuw 5
 
UCI – Zayd Mahmoud 7