IRVINE, Calif. – The seventh-ranked UC Irvine men's water polo team opened the 2025 campaign with a 15-14 victory over No. 16 LMU on the first day of the UCI Invitational Friday morning at Anteater Aquatics Complex.
 
The 'Eaters trailed early but back-to-back five-goal periods gave them the lead for good at the end of the third. UCI stepped up defensively in the fourth, allowing just two goals over the final eight minutes.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Cole Francisco led the offense with three goals and two assists. Jasper Dale also netted a hat trick with three goals, including both of the Anteaters' fourth-quarter tallies.

Alex Lopez and Luka Krstic contributed two goals each. Wyley Dale, Brody Luke, Ethan Spoon, Maddox McEwen, and Jayson Hubbard also found the back of the net. Hubbard added a game-high three assists. Zayd Mahmoud played all 32 minutes in the cage, finishing with six saves.
 
The 'Eaters went 7-for-13 on powerplays, while LMU was 3-of-6. The Lions also had two penalty goals. Alika Naone and Abel Romero Corbalan finished with three goals each.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine (1-0) struck first as Francisco converted a 6-on-5 goal at the 6:53 mark. J. Dale then made it a 2-0 advantage before LMU got on the board. Francisco found the back of the net again with just under five minutes on the clock, but the Lions responded with four unanswered to take a 5-3 lead.
 
The Anteaters made it a one-goal game early in the second period with a Lopez tally at the 7:18 mark. Loyola Marymount (0-1) countered with back-to-back goals and a seesaw battle ensued before Francisco and Lopez both scored on powerplays in the final 50 seconds to cut the deficit to 9-8 at the half.
 
The 'Eaters took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Lions, 5-3. Krstic and W. Dale converted on consecutive powerplays to tie it up at 10-10. LMU reclaimed the lead out of a timeout, and the two sides traded goals over the next minute. McEwen then scored his first collegiate goal and Krstic tapped in a beautiful cross from Gage Verdegaal to give UCI a 13-12 edge.
 
The tightly-contested affair continued over the final eight minutes. J. Dale scored both of UC Irvine's goals, while the Anteater defense locked in to preserve the 15-14 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UCI is back in action at Anteater Aquatics Complex this afternoon when it takes on No. 13 California Baptist at 4:15 p.m.
 

#7 UC Irvine 15, #16 LMU 14
August 29, 2025  |  Anteater Aquatics Complex (Irvine, Calif.)

LMU     5 – 4 – 3 – 2 = 14
UCI      3 – 5 – 5 – 2 = 15

SCORING:
LMU – Alika Naone 3, Abel Romero Corbalan 3, Bence Barics 2, Richie Rimlinger 1, Nick Leung 1, Tommaso Baldineti 1, Nico Furneaux 1, Mateo Obando 1, Roman Saroyan 1

UCI – Cole Francisco 3, Jasper Dale 3, Luka Krstic 2, Alex Lopez 2, Wyley Dale 1, Brody Luke 1, Ethan Spoon 1, Maddox McEwen 1, Jayson Hubbard 1

SAVES:
LMU – Fin Friedland 11

UCI – Zayd Mahmoud 6