LOS ANGELES – No. 8 UC Irvine men's water polo dropped a 16-15 heartbreaker at the buzzer to ninth-ranked Princeton in the Overnght MPSF Invitational consolation bracket Saturday evening at USC's Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
 
The Anteaters had a dominant first half, taking a 12-9 lead at the break. The Tigers chipped away in the third quarter, closing the gap to one. In the fourth, Princeton tied it up at 15-15 with 5:17 remaining. Both teams then went scoreless until the Tigers' Gavin Appeldorn's last-second, long-range lob shot dropped into the back of the cage for the game-winner.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Junior Johann Thrall and senior Luka Krstic both recorded their second hat trick of the day as they tied for the team lead with three goals each.
 
Senior Jack Stevens, sophomore Cole Francisco, and sophomore Ethan Spoon added two goals apiece. Juniors Wyley Dale and Gage Verdegaal, and sophomore Maddox McEwen also found the back of the net for the Anteaters. Senior goalkeeper Zayd Mahmoud finished with a season-high 10 saves.
 
Taylor Bell led Princeton with a game-high four goals. Kristof Kovacs also totaled 10 saves in between the posts.

The 'Eaters were whistled for 20 exclusions against seven for the Tigers. Princeton went 8-for-18 on powerplays and 1-for-2 on penalty shots.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine (7-4) raced out to a 2-0 lead at the 6:55 mark with a couple of quick goals from Krstic and Francisco. Princeton responded with a 3-1 run over the next two minutes to pull even. Spoon then struck with 4:35 remaining and Thrall followed just 31 seconds later to put the Anteaters on top, 5-3. The Tigers came storming back with three unanswered for their first lead of the evening, but Krstic converted on a 6-on-5 to make it 6-6 at the end of the first quarter.
 
It continued to go back-and-forth early in the second period before consecutive goals from Stevens, Krstic, and W. Dale gave UCI a 9-7 advantage with 4:49 left. Princeton then ended a nearly three-minute scoring drought, but the 'Eaters kept their foot on the gas, using a 3-1 spurt, capped by a Spoon tally, to go up 12-9 at the half.
 
Francisco struck first in the third frame to give UC Irvine its largest lead at 13-9. The Tigers started to chip away, closing to within one at 13-12. McEwen then scored, but Princeton got one back in the final minute to cut the Anteaters' margin to 14-13.
 
The Tigers (10-1) knotted the score on a powerplay two minutes into the fourth. Thrall came right back with his third tally of the game, but Princeton responded once again, evening it up at 15-15 with 5:17 to play. It was a defensive battle the rest of the way as both teams fought to find the go-ahead goal. Mahmoud led UCI's effort with four of his season-high 10 saves during that stretch, but the Tigers were finally able to break through at the buzzer for the 16-15 win.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine will conclude the 2025 Overnght MPSF Invitational on Sunday, Sept. 21, when it takes on No. 16 California Baptist in a 2:30 p.m. showdown at Utyengsu Aquatics Center.
 
NOTES
• Princeton's 16 goals were the most UC Irvine has allowed this season.
• The Anteaters' 12 goals in the first 16 minutes were the most they have scored in a half this year.
• On the other end, their three goals in the final 16 minutes were tied for the fewest they have scored in a half.
• Luka Krstic became the first 'Eater to reach the 20-goal mark, increasing his team-high season total to 22.
• Johann Thrall isn't far behind with 19 goals.