'Eaters Rally Past Pacific, 11-10, in Regular-Season Finale

Friday, November 13

Irvine, Calif.

6 P.M.

UC Irvine

18-8

Pacific

10-11

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Pacific	3	3	3	1	10
UC Irvine	2	2	4	3	11

November 13, 2026 | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

By: Leah Fitzpatrick

IRVINE, Calif – No. 12 UC Irvine men's water polo edged No. 18 Pacific, 11-10, in a hard-fought battle Friday night to close out the regular season.

The 'Eaters and Tigers traded goals throughout the opening quarter, with Pacific holding a narrow 3-2 advantage at the end of the frame. The Tigers maintained their momentum in the second, outscoring UCI 3-2 to take a 6-4 lead into halftime. The Anteaters responded in the third quarter, outscoring Pacific 4-3 to cut the deficit to one, 9-8, heading into the final frame. UCI completed the comeback in the fourth, outscoring the Tigers 3-1. Wyley Dale evened the score before Alex Lopez put the 'Eaters in front, and Keegan McGann extended the advantage with what proved to be the game-winning goal. UCI held on down the stretch to secure the 11-10 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS: Seniors Gage Verdegaal and Johann Thrall paced the 'Eaters offensively, each recording four points. Thrall led the way with three goals and one assist, while Verdegaal contributed one goal and three assists.

Alex Lopez added three points on two goals and one assist, while Jayson Hubbard also tallied three points with one goal and two assists. Wyley Dale chipped in two goals, while Brody Luke and Keegan McGann each added one, with McGann's goal proving to be the game-winner.

In goal, Vincent Vega turned in a standout performance, totaling 11 saves with a .524 save percentage to help secure the victory.

Gabor Holl and Yoav Rendler led Pacific offensively, each recording a hat trick.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The 'Eaters struck first when Wyley Dale drew a penalty and Brody Luke converted on the five-meter attempt at the 7:40 mark to give UCI an early 1-0 lead. Pacific evened the score at the 5:55 mark, but Johann Thrall responded just 24 seconds later with a goal off an assist from Ben Atkinson to put the 'Eaters back in front, 2-1. The Tigers answered with a power-play goal at the 5:06 mark before capitalizing on a six-on-four advantage at the 3:47 mark to take a 3-2 lead into the second period.

Thrall brought UCI even at the 6:39 mark with a goal assisted by Alex Lopez, but Pacific regained the lead on a penalty shot at the 4:43 mark. The Tigers added another goal at the 3:11 mark to extend their advantage to 5-3. However, after Atkinson drew an exclusion, Dale converted on the ensuing power play, with an assist from Jayson Hubbard, at the 2:39 mark to pull UCI within one, 5-4. Pacific scored the final goal of the period with 37 seconds remaining to carry a 6-4 lead into halftime.

Thrall continued to lead the UCI attack, completing his hat trick with a goal at the 5:45 mark to bring the 'Eaters within one, 6-5. Pacific responded 30 seconds later to maintain its two-goal advantage. Hubbard then found the back of the net off an assist from Gage Verdegaal at the 4:21 mark before Verdegaal added a goal of his own, assisted by Tyler Laymon, at the 3:25 mark to knot the score at 7-7. The Tigers briefly reclaimed the lead with a power-play goal at the 2:57 mark, but Lopez answered at the 1:34 mark, converting on a pass from Verdegaal to even the score at 8-8. Pacific netted the final goal of the frame on a penalty shot at the 1:15 mark to take a narrow 9-8 advantage into the final period.

The 'Eaters rallied in the fourth, outscoring the Tigers 3-1 to secure the 11-10 victory. Dale opened the scoring at the 5:32 mark, burying a pass from Thrall to even the contest at 9-9. After Verdegaal drew an exclusion, Lopez capitalized on the power play off an assist from Hubbard at the 4:25 mark to give UCI its first lead since the opening period, 10-9. McGann extended the advantage at the 2:04 mark, finishing a pass from Verdegaal to put the 'Eaters ahead 11-9. The Tigers added a late goal at the 1:18 mark to cut the deficit to one, but goalkeeper Vincent Vega came up with a crucial save while Verdegaal recorded a key steal in the final minute to preserve the 11-10 win.

UP NEXT: The Anteaters will turn their focus to postseason play, heading to Long Beach State for the Big West Championship, Nov. 20-22.