Friday, October 30
Irvine, Calif.
6 P.M.
UC Irvine
17-7, 2-2
10
vs
11
UC Santa Barbara
21-9, 3-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Santa Barbara | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| UC Irvine | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 10 |
October 30, 2026 | Men's Water Polo
IRVINE, Calif. – No. 8 UC Irvine men's water polo came up just short against No. 11 UC Santa Barbara, falling 11-10 on Friday night at Anteater Aquatics Complex.
The Anteaters and Gauchos traded goals throughout the opening quarter, with the score tied multiple times before UC Santa Barbara found the back of the net with one second remaining to take a 4-3 lead. The Gauchos carried that momentum into the second quarter, shutting out UC Irvine while adding three goals of their own to extend their advantage to 7-3 at halftime. The Anteaters responded in the third quarter, outscoring UC Santa Barbara 4-2 to cut the deficit to 9-7 heading into the final frame. UC Irvine continued to battle in the fourth, once again outscoring the Gauchos, 3-2, but the late push fell just short as the Anteaters dropped an 11-10 decision.
BY THE NUMBERS: Wyley Dale, Samuel Bowman, and Johann Thrall led the Anteater offense with two goals apiece, while Jayson Hubbard dished out a team-high three assists. Alex Lopez, Cole Francisco, Brody Luke, and Ethan Spoon each contributed a goal.
In goal, freshman Nico Assalian recorded seven saves for the Anteaters.
Luigi Canepa paced UC Santa Barbara with three goals.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Anteaters struck first after Wyley Dale drew an exclusion and converted on the ensuing power play off a pass from Cole Francisco at the 6:06 mark to give UC Irvine an early 1-0 lead. UC Santa Barbara evened the score at 4:33 before taking its first lead on the power play at 3:47, capitalizing on a pair of UC Irvine exclusions, including one on goalkeeper Nico Assalian, to go up 2-1. The 'Eaters responded at 3:17 when Ethan Spoon drew an exclusion and Johann Thrall converted on the man advantage, assisted by Jayson Hubbard, to tie the game at 2-2. The Gauchos regained the lead on a power-play goal at 2:57, but UC Irvine answered once again as Samuel Bowman drew an exclusion and scored on the ensuing power play at 2:24, with another assist from Hubbard, to make it 3-3. UC Santa Barbara found the back of the net with just one second remaining in the quarter to take a 4-3 lead into the second.
The Gauchos held the Anteaters scoreless in the second quarter while adding three goals of their own. UC Santa Barbara converted on back-to-back power plays at the 7:07 and 1:50 marks before scoring on a penalty shot at 1:03 to extend its lead to 7-3 at halftime.
UC Irvine came out of the break with renewed momentum as Alex Lopez drew a penalty and Brody Luke converted on the five-meter attempt at 5:09 to cut the deficit to 7-4. The Gauchos answered with a goal at 4:44, but the Anteaters responded when Spoon drew a penalty and Lopez converted on the ensuing penalty shot at 3:41 to make it 8-5. Spoon added another goal at 2:53 before Bowman found the back of the net off a pass from Hubbard at 2:03, bringing UC Irvine within one at 8-7. UC Santa Barbara added a goal with 55 seconds remaining in the quarter to carry a 9-7 advantage into the final frame.
The Gauchos opened the fourth quarter with a successful five-meter attempt at 5:03 to restore their three-goal lead, 10-7. Francisco answered at 3:51, with an assist from Lopez, to bring the Anteaters within two at 10-8. UC Irvine was then whistled for a penalty foul and a brutality call, awarding the Gauchos two penalty shots. UC Santa Barbara converted the first attempt at 3:36 to extend its lead to 11-8, while Assalian came up with a save on the second. Dale drew another exclusion and converted on the ensuing power play, assisted by Keegan McGann, at 2:42 to make it 11-9. The Anteaters continued their late push as Dale drew another exclusion and Thrall capitalized on the power play with 39 seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to one at 11-10. However, UC Irvine couldn't find the equalizer in the closing seconds and fell to the Gauchos.
UP NEXT: The 'Eaters are back in action on Friday, Nov. 6, as they travel to No. 12 Long Beach State for a Big West showdown at 7 p.m.
The Anteaters and Gauchos traded goals throughout the opening quarter, with the score tied multiple times before UC Santa Barbara found the back of the net with one second remaining to take a 4-3 lead. The Gauchos carried that momentum into the second quarter, shutting out UC Irvine while adding three goals of their own to extend their advantage to 7-3 at halftime. The Anteaters responded in the third quarter, outscoring UC Santa Barbara 4-2 to cut the deficit to 9-7 heading into the final frame. UC Irvine continued to battle in the fourth, once again outscoring the Gauchos, 3-2, but the late push fell just short as the Anteaters dropped an 11-10 decision.
BY THE NUMBERS: Wyley Dale, Samuel Bowman, and Johann Thrall led the Anteater offense with two goals apiece, while Jayson Hubbard dished out a team-high three assists. Alex Lopez, Cole Francisco, Brody Luke, and Ethan Spoon each contributed a goal.
In goal, freshman Nico Assalian recorded seven saves for the Anteaters.
Luigi Canepa paced UC Santa Barbara with three goals.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Anteaters struck first after Wyley Dale drew an exclusion and converted on the ensuing power play off a pass from Cole Francisco at the 6:06 mark to give UC Irvine an early 1-0 lead. UC Santa Barbara evened the score at 4:33 before taking its first lead on the power play at 3:47, capitalizing on a pair of UC Irvine exclusions, including one on goalkeeper Nico Assalian, to go up 2-1. The 'Eaters responded at 3:17 when Ethan Spoon drew an exclusion and Johann Thrall converted on the man advantage, assisted by Jayson Hubbard, to tie the game at 2-2. The Gauchos regained the lead on a power-play goal at 2:57, but UC Irvine answered once again as Samuel Bowman drew an exclusion and scored on the ensuing power play at 2:24, with another assist from Hubbard, to make it 3-3. UC Santa Barbara found the back of the net with just one second remaining in the quarter to take a 4-3 lead into the second.
The Gauchos held the Anteaters scoreless in the second quarter while adding three goals of their own. UC Santa Barbara converted on back-to-back power plays at the 7:07 and 1:50 marks before scoring on a penalty shot at 1:03 to extend its lead to 7-3 at halftime.
UC Irvine came out of the break with renewed momentum as Alex Lopez drew a penalty and Brody Luke converted on the five-meter attempt at 5:09 to cut the deficit to 7-4. The Gauchos answered with a goal at 4:44, but the Anteaters responded when Spoon drew a penalty and Lopez converted on the ensuing penalty shot at 3:41 to make it 8-5. Spoon added another goal at 2:53 before Bowman found the back of the net off a pass from Hubbard at 2:03, bringing UC Irvine within one at 8-7. UC Santa Barbara added a goal with 55 seconds remaining in the quarter to carry a 9-7 advantage into the final frame.
The Gauchos opened the fourth quarter with a successful five-meter attempt at 5:03 to restore their three-goal lead, 10-7. Francisco answered at 3:51, with an assist from Lopez, to bring the Anteaters within two at 10-8. UC Irvine was then whistled for a penalty foul and a brutality call, awarding the Gauchos two penalty shots. UC Santa Barbara converted the first attempt at 3:36 to extend its lead to 11-8, while Assalian came up with a save on the second. Dale drew another exclusion and converted on the ensuing power play, assisted by Keegan McGann, at 2:42 to make it 11-9. The Anteaters continued their late push as Dale drew another exclusion and Thrall capitalized on the power play with 39 seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to one at 11-10. However, UC Irvine couldn't find the equalizer in the closing seconds and fell to the Gauchos.
UP NEXT: The 'Eaters are back in action on Friday, Nov. 6, as they travel to No. 12 Long Beach State for a Big West showdown at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Men's Water Polo
Center
/ Men's Water Polo
Utility
/ Men's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Men's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Men's Water Polo
Utility
/ Men's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Men's Water Polo
Center
/ Men's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Men's Water PoloTeam Stats
UCSB
UCI
Shots
27
30
Goals
11
10
Assists
4
6
Points
15
16
Exclusions
15
13
Steals
6
2
Sprints
2
2
1
Wyley Dale
6:06
Camren Simoncelli
4:33
Luigi Canepa
3:47
Johann Thrall
3:17
Luigi Canepa
2:57
Samuel Bowman
2:24
Camren Simoncelli
0:01
2
Charlie Johnson
7:07
Finn Genc
1:50
Sean O'Brien
1:03
3
Brody Luke
5:09
Finn Genc
4:44
Alex Lopez
3:41
Ethan Spoon
2:53
Samuel Bowman
2:03
Charlie Johnson
0:55
4
Finn Genc
5:03
Cole Francisco
3:51
Luigi Canepa
3:36
Wyley Dale
2:42
Johann Thrall
0:39
Game Leaders
Shots
5
Goals
2
Assists
0
Points
2
Shots
5
Goals
2
Assists
0
Points
2
Shots
5
Goals
0
Assists
0
Points
0
Shots
4
Goals
2
Assists
0
Points
2
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