Friday, August 28
Irvine, Calif.
9 A.M
UC Irvine
vs
Chapman
Photo by: Matt Brown
No. 13 UCI Water Polo Opens 2026 Season at UCI Invitational
August 26, 2026 | Men's Water Polo
IRVINE, Calif. - The 13th-ranked UC Irvine men's water polo team is set to open the 2026 campaign at home as it hosts the UCI Invitational, Aug. 28-29. The Anteaters will face Chapman (9 a.m.) and George Washington (2:20 p.m.) on Friday, before taking on No. 3 Stanford (9 a.m.) and Concordia (2:20 p.m.) on Saturday. All games will be played at Anteater Aquatics Complex.
PARKING ADVISORY FOR UCI INVITATIONAL:
Please arrive early and allow extra time for parking and travel, as large events are anticipated to increase traffic. A parking permit is required at all times, including for ADA parking, and can be purchased in advance through ParkbyPlate. Event parking is available in the Student Center Parking Structure, accessible from Campus Drive. Mesa Parking Structure will be closed to Water Polo Invitational guests.
ANTEATER TIDBITS
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Chapman finished the 2025 season with a 9-18 record. Davin Castillo led the Panthers with 96 points, recording 47 goals and 49 assists. Daniel Franks ranked second on the team with 71 points, tallying 25 goals and 46 assists, while Rylan Takahashi finished third with 58 points on 41 goals and 17 assists. In goal, Jackson Sanders paced the Panthers with more than 485 minutes played and 142 saves. Goalkeeper David Yacoub ranked second with more than 242 minutes logged and 63 saves.The Anteaters and Panthers have not met since Sept. 4, 2021, when UCI earned a 23-8 victory.
George Washington University finished the 2025 season with a 16-16 record. Graduated senior Adonis Vlassis led the Revolutionaries with 165 points, recording 112 goals and 53 assists. Junior Yam Kabakov ranked second on the team with 94 points on 50 goals and 44 assists, while sophomore Andrea Forno finished third with 80 points, tallying 69 goals and 11 assists. In goal, graduated senior Vasilije Marinkovic led the Revolutionaries with 291 saves and added 10 assists. Returning goalkeeper Jermain recorded 35 saves while allowing 75 goals.This matchup will mark the first meeting in program history between the Revolutionaries and the Anteaters.
No. 3 Stanford finished the 2025 season with an 18-8 record and consistently ranked among the nation's top three teams in the CWPA rankings. The Cardinal placed third at the MPSF Championship after defeating Cal before falling to UCLA in the NCAA Championship semifinals. Junior Botond Balogh led Stanford with 111 points, recording 70 goals and 41 assists. Junior Ben Forer ranked second with 104 points on 57 goals and 47 assists. In net, graduated senior West Temkin led the Cardinal with 199 saves and added eight assists. Senior Harrison Rohlen appeared in 10 games and recorded 17 saves. Stanford also welcomes redshirt senior transfer Bernardo Herzer from USC, a two-time All-American who was named to the 2025 Cutino Award Watch List, adding another experienced presence in goal. The Anteaters and Cardinal last met on Sept. 28, 2024, when Stanford earned a 15-10 victory.
Concordia finished the 2025 season with a 21-13 overall record. Sophomore Dimitrios Koritsas led the Golden Eagles with 111 points, recording 72 goals and 39 assists. Sophomore Hugo Woulters ranked second on the team with 108 points on 66 goals and 42 assists. In goal, Pablo de Souza led Concordia with more than 946 minutes logged, 343 saves and 21 assists. Derek Maddox appeared in 16 games, totaling more than 119 minutes, 32 saves and three assists. The Anteaters and Golden Eagles faced off twice during the 2025 season. UCI earned a 21-7 victory at the UCI Invitational before defeating Concordia again, 17-10, at the Joust in Riverside.
PRESEASON HONORS
Junior Cole Francisco was named to the eight-member Preseason All-Big West Team as voted on by the conference's head coaches. Francisco is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he totaled 69 points on 31 goals and a team-high 38 assists. He is a three-time All-Big West honoree, a two-time Big West Player of the Week selection, and landed on both the CSC Academic All-District At-Large Team and the ACWPC All-Academic Team in the 2025 season.
IN THE RANKINGS
UCI tied for 13th in the Collegiate Water Polo Association's preseason national rankings released on August 19. The 'Eaters finished 16th in the final ranking of the 2025 season.
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
The Anteaters welcome back four of their top five scorers from last year's squad that netted 364 goals, the second-highest single-season total in program history. Seniors Johann Thrall (60) and Wyley Dale (39) combined for 99 of those goals, while Juniors Cole Francisco (31) and Ethan Spoon (32) rounded out the top five scorers. Francisco (Second Team), Thrall (Honorable Mention), and Dale (Honorable Mention) received all-conference honors in 2024.
MINDING THE NET
UC Irvine graduated starting goalkeeper Zayd Mahmoud, but the 'Eaters have a young group of keepers looking to make an impact in between the pipes. Sophomore Vincent Vega saw the most action last season, appearing in four games for 76 minutes, while recording 12 saves and a 10.07 goals-against average. Junior Nolan Cary enters the season with seven career appearances and one start, totaling 106 minutes. In 2025, he posted 18 saves and a 10.84 goals-against average. Freshman Nico Assalian will look to make his collegiate debut after not competing in 2025.
NEW FACES, NEW ROLES
UCI has six true freshmen looking to make an immediate impact. Ryan Fresca headlines the new crew after earning a bronze medal at last year's Junior Olympics and taking home silver the year prior. River Davis, Declan Murphy, Noah Jurgensen, Aiden Sexton, and Luke Kalynij round out the newcomers for the 2026 season. The 'Eaters also welcome JT Moss, who will not compete this season. There are also a few returners poised to make a bigger impact this season, including sophomores Samuel Bowman (five goals, three assists) and Dylan Rosmann (five goals, four assists)
UP NEXT
The Anteaters will head to the Inland Empire Classic for four games over two days, Sept. 4-5 in Redlands and Pomona, Calif.
PARKING ADVISORY FOR UCI INVITATIONAL:
Please arrive early and allow extra time for parking and travel, as large events are anticipated to increase traffic. A parking permit is required at all times, including for ADA parking, and can be purchased in advance through ParkbyPlate. Event parking is available in the Student Center Parking Structure, accessible from Campus Drive. Mesa Parking Structure will be closed to Water Polo Invitational guests.
ANTEATER TIDBITS
- UC Irvine won back-to-back Big West regular season titles in 2023 and 2024.The Anteaters are 9-1 in conference during that stretch, including a perfect 5-0 mark in 2024.
- They also claimed the Big West Championship title and made their first NCAA appearance in 30 years in 2023.
- UCI returns 80% of its scoring from a 2025 squad that netted 364 goals, the second highest total in program history.
- Junior Cole Francisco and senior Johann Thrall lead the way as multiple-time All-Big West selections.
- The 'Eaters also welcome back All-Big West pick Wyley Dale and senior leader Gage Veregaal
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Chapman finished the 2025 season with a 9-18 record. Davin Castillo led the Panthers with 96 points, recording 47 goals and 49 assists. Daniel Franks ranked second on the team with 71 points, tallying 25 goals and 46 assists, while Rylan Takahashi finished third with 58 points on 41 goals and 17 assists. In goal, Jackson Sanders paced the Panthers with more than 485 minutes played and 142 saves. Goalkeeper David Yacoub ranked second with more than 242 minutes logged and 63 saves.The Anteaters and Panthers have not met since Sept. 4, 2021, when UCI earned a 23-8 victory.
George Washington University finished the 2025 season with a 16-16 record. Graduated senior Adonis Vlassis led the Revolutionaries with 165 points, recording 112 goals and 53 assists. Junior Yam Kabakov ranked second on the team with 94 points on 50 goals and 44 assists, while sophomore Andrea Forno finished third with 80 points, tallying 69 goals and 11 assists. In goal, graduated senior Vasilije Marinkovic led the Revolutionaries with 291 saves and added 10 assists. Returning goalkeeper Jermain recorded 35 saves while allowing 75 goals.This matchup will mark the first meeting in program history between the Revolutionaries and the Anteaters.
No. 3 Stanford finished the 2025 season with an 18-8 record and consistently ranked among the nation's top three teams in the CWPA rankings. The Cardinal placed third at the MPSF Championship after defeating Cal before falling to UCLA in the NCAA Championship semifinals. Junior Botond Balogh led Stanford with 111 points, recording 70 goals and 41 assists. Junior Ben Forer ranked second with 104 points on 57 goals and 47 assists. In net, graduated senior West Temkin led the Cardinal with 199 saves and added eight assists. Senior Harrison Rohlen appeared in 10 games and recorded 17 saves. Stanford also welcomes redshirt senior transfer Bernardo Herzer from USC, a two-time All-American who was named to the 2025 Cutino Award Watch List, adding another experienced presence in goal. The Anteaters and Cardinal last met on Sept. 28, 2024, when Stanford earned a 15-10 victory.
Concordia finished the 2025 season with a 21-13 overall record. Sophomore Dimitrios Koritsas led the Golden Eagles with 111 points, recording 72 goals and 39 assists. Sophomore Hugo Woulters ranked second on the team with 108 points on 66 goals and 42 assists. In goal, Pablo de Souza led Concordia with more than 946 minutes logged, 343 saves and 21 assists. Derek Maddox appeared in 16 games, totaling more than 119 minutes, 32 saves and three assists. The Anteaters and Golden Eagles faced off twice during the 2025 season. UCI earned a 21-7 victory at the UCI Invitational before defeating Concordia again, 17-10, at the Joust in Riverside.
PRESEASON HONORS
Junior Cole Francisco was named to the eight-member Preseason All-Big West Team as voted on by the conference's head coaches. Francisco is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he totaled 69 points on 31 goals and a team-high 38 assists. He is a three-time All-Big West honoree, a two-time Big West Player of the Week selection, and landed on both the CSC Academic All-District At-Large Team and the ACWPC All-Academic Team in the 2025 season.
IN THE RANKINGS
UCI tied for 13th in the Collegiate Water Polo Association's preseason national rankings released on August 19. The 'Eaters finished 16th in the final ranking of the 2025 season.
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
The Anteaters welcome back four of their top five scorers from last year's squad that netted 364 goals, the second-highest single-season total in program history. Seniors Johann Thrall (60) and Wyley Dale (39) combined for 99 of those goals, while Juniors Cole Francisco (31) and Ethan Spoon (32) rounded out the top five scorers. Francisco (Second Team), Thrall (Honorable Mention), and Dale (Honorable Mention) received all-conference honors in 2024.
MINDING THE NET
UC Irvine graduated starting goalkeeper Zayd Mahmoud, but the 'Eaters have a young group of keepers looking to make an impact in between the pipes. Sophomore Vincent Vega saw the most action last season, appearing in four games for 76 minutes, while recording 12 saves and a 10.07 goals-against average. Junior Nolan Cary enters the season with seven career appearances and one start, totaling 106 minutes. In 2025, he posted 18 saves and a 10.84 goals-against average. Freshman Nico Assalian will look to make his collegiate debut after not competing in 2025.
NEW FACES, NEW ROLES
UCI has six true freshmen looking to make an immediate impact. Ryan Fresca headlines the new crew after earning a bronze medal at last year's Junior Olympics and taking home silver the year prior. River Davis, Declan Murphy, Noah Jurgensen, Aiden Sexton, and Luke Kalynij round out the newcomers for the 2026 season. The 'Eaters also welcome JT Moss, who will not compete this season. There are also a few returners poised to make a bigger impact this season, including sophomores Samuel Bowman (five goals, three assists) and Dylan Rosmann (five goals, four assists)
UP NEXT
The Anteaters will head to the Inland Empire Classic for four games over two days, Sept. 4-5 in Redlands and Pomona, Calif.
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
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Defender
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Utility
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Utility
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Utility
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Attacker
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Goalkeeper
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