RIVERSIDE - No. 15 UC Irvine men's water polo team earned a 17-11 victory over No. 14 California Baptist on Friday night at the Lancer Joust in Riverside. 

The 'Eaters (7-5) outscored the Lancers (9-5) 5-2 over the first quarter of action and again 6-2 in the second quarter, taking an 11-4 lead at the half. The Lancers battled, netting seven more, but couldn't overcome the deficit, sealing the Anteater victory. 

BY THE NUMBERS: Senior Luka Krstic and Junior Gage Verdegaal led the way, each recording a hat trick for the 'Eaters. Jack Stevens, Johann Thrall, and Samuel Otta each added two tallies. 

Wyley Dale, Cole Francisco, Jasper Dale, Ethan Spoon, and Jayson Hubbard each found the back of the net once. Jasper Dale added four assists for a five point game. 

Alex Righetti led the Lancers with three goals. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: The 'Eaters and the Lancers traded goals over the first few minutes of action. Cole Francisco opened up the scoring before California Baptist recorded a tally of their own. Luka Krstic found the back of the net to briefly regain the lead before the Lancers tied it up at 2 at the 3:27 mark. The Anteaters then scored three unanswered, from Samuel Otta, Wyley Dale, and Johann Thrall to put UCI up 5-2 at the end of the first quarter. 

The 'Eaters kept the rally going with four more unanswered goals to open up the second period of action. Gage Verdegaal found the back of the net on the power play before Krstic capitalized on a penalty shot. Jayson Hubbard and Jack Stevens joined in on the scoring before the Lancers halted the run briefly, making the Anteater lead 9-3 at the 1:36 mark. Krstic and Jasper Dale added two more before Cal Baptist netted the final goal of the half, leaving the 'Eaters up 11-4 at the horn. 

Thrall opened up the scoring in the third frame before the Lancers scored three in a row to cut the Anteater lead to 12-7 at the 4:56 mark. Verdegaal capped CBU's run with a goal for UCI before the Lancers found the back of the net again, making the 'Eater lead 13-8 at the 3:23 mark. Verdegaal and Ethan Spoon added two for UC Irvine to increase the lead to 15-8 heading into the final quarter. 

UC Irvine and California Baptist went goal for goal for most of the fourth quarter, with Jack Stevens finding the back of the net first for the 'Eaters before the Lancers answered with a goal of their own. Otta added one for UCI before CBU scored the last two goals of the game, sealing the 17-11 Anteater win. 

UP NEXT: The 'Eaters take on Occidental College on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 11:20 a.m. for the second day of the Lancer Joust in Riverside.