No. 6 Anteaters Rally Past No. 14 California Baptist

Saturday, October 17

Riverside, Calif.

12 P.M.

UC Irvine

15-5, 1-0

California Baptist

20-5, 1-0

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
UC Irvine	3	4	1	4	12
California Baptist	5	1	2	1	9

No. 6 Anteaters Rally Past No. 14 California Baptist

October 17, 2026 | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

By: Leah Fitzpatrick

RIVERSIDE, Calif – No. 6 UC Irvine men's water polo earned a 12-9 victory over No. 14 California Baptist on Saturday afternoon in Riverside, improving to 2-0 in Big West play.

The Anteaters trailed after the opening quarter, as the Lancers built a 5-3 advantage. UC Irvine responded in the second quarter, outscoring California Baptist 4-1 to take a 7-6 lead into halftime. The Lancers battled back in the third, scoring twice while holding the Anteaters to one goal to even the score at 8-8 heading into the final frame. UCI took control in the fourth quarter, outscoring California Baptist 4-1 to secure the 12-9 victory and remain undefeated in conference play.

BY THE NUMBERS: Senior Alex Lopez led the Anteaters with three goals, completing a hat trick in the fourth quarter.

Juniors Cole Francisco and Brody Luke each contributed two goals and one assist for three-point performances.

Johann Thrall also added two goals, while Wyley Dale, Keegan McGann, and Gage Verdegaal each found the back of the net.

Michael Abshier led California Baptist with three goals.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Lancers opened the scoring with two consecutive goals, finding the back of the net at the 7:26 mark before converting a five-meter penalty at 5:43 to take an early 2-0 lead. The Anteaters responded with back-to-back goals to even the score. After Wyley Dale drew an exclusion, Alex Lopez capitalized on the ensuing power play off an assist from Keegan McGann at 5:14. Cole Francisco followed with a goal off a pass from Ben Youngblood at 4:15 to tie the game at 2-2. California Baptist answered with two straight goals, converting on a power play at 2:32 before scoring again at 1:16 to reclaim a 4-2 advantage. Johann Thrall trimmed the deficit with 51 seconds remaining, scoring off an assist from Francisco to bring UC Irvine within two, 5-3, heading into the second quarter.

Cole Francisco opened the second-quarter scoring at 6:28, converting off an assist from Ryan Fresca to pull the Anteaters within one at 5-4. The Lancers responded with their only goal of the period at the six-minute mark to extend their lead to 6-4. UC Irvine closed the half with a three-goal surge to take its first lead of the game. Keegan McGann sparked the run at 5:30, scoring off an assist from Jayson Hubbard to make it 6-5. McGann then drew a penalty, setting up Brody Luke for a successful five-meter attempt at 1:19 to knot the score at 6-6. With 31 seconds remaining, Gage Verdegaal capped the run by finding the back of the net off an assist from Luke, sending the Anteaters into halftime with a 7-6 advantage.

Johann Thrall extended UC Irvine's lead early in the third quarter, converting on a power play at 7:07 after Ethan Spoon drew an exclusion. Thrall scored off an assist from Gage Verdegaal to put the Anteaters ahead 8-6. California Baptist responded with two late goals, finding the net at the 1:43 and 1:10 marks to erase the deficit and even the score at 8-8 heading into the final quarter.

Wyley Dale put UC Irvine back in front at 7:07, scoring off an assist from McGann to give the Anteaters a 9-8 lead. Brody Luke drew a penalty and converted the ensuing five-meter attempt at 4:42 to extend the advantage to 10-8. The Lancers answered at 3:15 to cut the deficit to one, but Dale drew another penalty, setting up Lopez to convert from five meters at 2:48 and restore UCI's two-goal cushion at 11-9. Lopez sealed the victory with 15 seconds remaining, completing his hat trick with an empty-net goal to secure a 12-9 win for the Anteaters.

UP NEXT: The 'Eaters are back in action on Friday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m. as they welcome No. 8 UC San Diego to Anteater Aquatics Complex for a Big West match up.