REDLANDS, Calif. – The seventh-ranked UC Irvine men's water polo team outscored Cal Lutheran, 8-1, in the fourth quarter to run away with an 18-8 victory at the Inland Empire Classic Saturday afternoon at Thompson Aquatic Center.
 
The Kingsmen (0-3), who are ranked sixth in Division III, kept it close as they trailed by only one at halftime and by three at the end of the third quarter. The Anteaters then came alive, finding the back of the cage eight times in the final eight minutes.
 
The 'Eaters improved to 5-0 on the year.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Sophomore Maddox McEwen led the attack with a game and career-high four goals. He struck twice in the first and fourth quarters.

Senior Jack Stevens (2), junior Wyley Dale (2), junior Johann Thrall (2), and sophomore Ethan Spoon (2) added multi-goal games. Six other Anteaters made their way into the scoring column in the win.
 
Junior Blake Borders made his UCI debut in the cage, finishing with seven saves.
 
Levi Cook paced Cal Lu with three goals, while Bo DuBois notched nine saves.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine struck first as junior Alex Lopez converted on a 6-on-5 at the 7:26 mark. Cal Lutheran answered with back-to-back goals to take the lead midway through the opening quarter. After trading blows, the Anteaters scored the final three, including a pair from McEwen in a 50-second span, to hold a 5-3 edge.
 
The Kingsmen responded with the first three tallies of the second frame to reclaim a 6-5 advantage with 2:39 remaining. Thrall then stepped up with two goals in the final minute to put UCI on top, 7-6, at the break.
 
In the third period, the 'Eaters outscored CLU, 3-1, to increase their margin to 10-7. Senior Samuel Otta, junior Gage Verdegaal, and Stevens all netted their first goals of the game.
 
UC Irvine found its stride in the fourth, striking eight times. Senior Luka Krstic and Stevens both converted in the first two minutes of the final quarter to push the lead to five. A flurry of Anteater goals over the final four minutes then broke it wide open. McEwen and Dale both scored twice during that stretch.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine returns to the pool at Thompson Aquatic Center later today as it is set to close out the Inland Empire Classic against host Redlands at 5 p.m.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine is 5-0 for the first time since 2015.
• The Anteaters have scored 15+ goals in all five games (16.8/gm).
• Cole Francisco, Wyley Dale, and Ethan Spoon have all recorded at least one goal in every contest this year.
• Maddox McEwen is the sixth different 'Eater to register a hat trick this season.


#7 UC Irvine 18, Cal Lu 8
September 6, 2025  |  Thompson Aquatic Center (Redlands, Calif.)

CLU      3 – 3 – 1 – 1 = 8
UCI       5 – 2 – 3 – 8 = 18

SCORING:
CLU – Levi Cook 3, Paul Patterson 2, Dylan Villanueva 1, Merrick Giles 1, Nic Mastropoalo 1

UCI – Maddox McEwen 4, Wyley Dale 2, Ethan Spoon 2, Jack Stevens 2, Johann Thrall 2, Alex Lopez 1, Samuel Otta 1, Cole Francisco 1, Luka Krstic 1, Gage Verdegaal 1, Keegan McGann 1

SAVES:
CLU – Bo DuBois 9
 
UCI – Blake Borders 7