Sunday, September 20
Palo Alto, Calif.
9:30 A.M.
UC Irvine
15
vs
14
San José State
Photo by: Jacob Thompson/UC Irvine Athletics
‘Eaters Rally Past No. 11 San José State in Overtime Upset
September 20, 2026 | Men's Water Polo
STANFORD, Calif. – No. 13 UC Irvine men's water polo capped an impressive weekend with its second upset, defeating No. 11 San José State, 15-14, in an overtime thriller Sunday morning in the final game of the MPSF Invitational.
The 'Eaters and Spartans traded two goals apiece in the opening quarter, sending the game into the first break tied at 2-2. The Anteaters battled back to even the score several times in the second quarter, but San José State outscored UCI, 4-2, to take a 6-4 lead into halftime. UCI responded with a strong third quarter, outscoring the Spartans, 4-2, to once again level the score at 8-8 heading into the final period. The teams continued to trade goals in the fourth, with each side finding the back of the net four times to finish regulation tied at 12-12 and force overtime. The deadlock continued into the first overtime period, as both teams added two goals to leave the score knotted at 14-14. In the second overtime period, Brody Luke found the back of the net for the lone goal of the frame, sealing the 'Eaters' thrilling 15-14 overtime victory and upset over the Spartans.
BY THE NUMBERS: Senior Alex Lopez led the 'Eaters' offense with five goals, while senior Johann Thrall and junior Brody Luke each added three. Luke scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime period to seal the 15-14 victory.
Cole Francisco contributed two goals, while Tyler Laymon and Samuel Bowman each added one.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Alex Lopez opened the scoring at the 7:08 mark, converting a pass from Cole Francisco to give the 'Eaters an early 1-0 lead. The Spartans responded with two goals at 4:12 and 1:58 to take a 2-1 advantage, but Francisco came through with the equalizer with just one second remaining in the period, assisted by Maddox McEwen, to end the first frame all tied up at 2-2.
The Spartans opened the scoring in the second period at the 7:16 mark to retake the lead, 3-2. Brody Luke answered just 21 seconds later, finding the back of the net at 6:55 to even the score at 3-3. San Jose State regained the lead at 6:38, but Alex Lopez responded with his second goal of the game at 6:04, assisted by Luke, to tie things up once again at 4-4. The Spartans then scored the final two goals of the period at the 5:03 and 1:58 marks to take a 6-4 lead into halftime.
Lopez converted on the man advantage at the 6:44 mark, assisted by Francisco, to pull the 'Eaters within one, 6-5. The Spartans responded with two goals of their own, including a power-play tally at 6:05 and another goal at 3:31, to extend their lead to 8-5. The 'Eaters then rallied with three unanswered goals to even the score heading into the fourth quarter. Lopez scored twice, with his fifth goal of the game coming at the three-minute mark off a pass from Luke and his sixth at 2:15 to cut the deficit to one, 8-7. With just 18 seconds remaining, Francisco netted his second goal of the game, assisted by Luke, to bring the score level at 8-8 heading into the final frame.
The Spartans opened the fourth quarter with two goals to regain a two-goal advantage. The first came at the 7:02 mark, followed by a five-meter goal at 6:23 to put San Jose State ahead, 10-8. The 'Eaters responded with three unanswered goals to reclaim the lead. Johann Thrall converted on the power play at 5:24, assisted by Gage Verdegaal, to pull UCI within one, 10-9. Thrall struck again at the 3:46 mark to even the score at 10-10, before Tyler Laymon found the back of the net at 2:54, off an assist from Verdegaal, to give the 'Eaters their first lead of the quarter, 11-10. The Spartans answered with two goals of their own, scoring at 2:31 and again on the power play at 1:35 to retake the lead, 12-11. With 1:22 remaining, Thrall completed his fourth-quarter hat trick, converting a pass from Verdegaal to tie the game at 12-12 and send the contest to overtime.
Luke opened the scoring in overtime with his second goal of the game at the 2:39 mark, putting the 'Eaters back in front, 13-12. Nico Assalian then came up with a crucial stop on a five-meter attempt to preserve UCI's lead. The Spartans answered with two goals, scoring at 1:51 and again on a penalty shot at 1:16 to regain the lead, 14-13. With 52 seconds remaining in the first overtime period, Samuel Bowman found the back of the net off a pass from Verdegaal to even the score at 14-14 at the end of the first overtime period.
Luke scored the lone goal of the second overtime period at the 1:55 mark, completing his hat trick and sealing the 'Eaters' thrilling 15-14 overtime victory.
UP NEXT: The 'Eaters host the UCI Mini Tournament next weekend, Sept. 26, where they will face LMU (10:20 a.m.) and Santa Clara (3 p.m.) at Anteater Aquatics Complex.
The 'Eaters and Spartans traded two goals apiece in the opening quarter, sending the game into the first break tied at 2-2. The Anteaters battled back to even the score several times in the second quarter, but San José State outscored UCI, 4-2, to take a 6-4 lead into halftime. UCI responded with a strong third quarter, outscoring the Spartans, 4-2, to once again level the score at 8-8 heading into the final period. The teams continued to trade goals in the fourth, with each side finding the back of the net four times to finish regulation tied at 12-12 and force overtime. The deadlock continued into the first overtime period, as both teams added two goals to leave the score knotted at 14-14. In the second overtime period, Brody Luke found the back of the net for the lone goal of the frame, sealing the 'Eaters' thrilling 15-14 overtime victory and upset over the Spartans.
BY THE NUMBERS: Senior Alex Lopez led the 'Eaters' offense with five goals, while senior Johann Thrall and junior Brody Luke each added three. Luke scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime period to seal the 15-14 victory.
Cole Francisco contributed two goals, while Tyler Laymon and Samuel Bowman each added one.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Alex Lopez opened the scoring at the 7:08 mark, converting a pass from Cole Francisco to give the 'Eaters an early 1-0 lead. The Spartans responded with two goals at 4:12 and 1:58 to take a 2-1 advantage, but Francisco came through with the equalizer with just one second remaining in the period, assisted by Maddox McEwen, to end the first frame all tied up at 2-2.
The Spartans opened the scoring in the second period at the 7:16 mark to retake the lead, 3-2. Brody Luke answered just 21 seconds later, finding the back of the net at 6:55 to even the score at 3-3. San Jose State regained the lead at 6:38, but Alex Lopez responded with his second goal of the game at 6:04, assisted by Luke, to tie things up once again at 4-4. The Spartans then scored the final two goals of the period at the 5:03 and 1:58 marks to take a 6-4 lead into halftime.
Lopez converted on the man advantage at the 6:44 mark, assisted by Francisco, to pull the 'Eaters within one, 6-5. The Spartans responded with two goals of their own, including a power-play tally at 6:05 and another goal at 3:31, to extend their lead to 8-5. The 'Eaters then rallied with three unanswered goals to even the score heading into the fourth quarter. Lopez scored twice, with his fifth goal of the game coming at the three-minute mark off a pass from Luke and his sixth at 2:15 to cut the deficit to one, 8-7. With just 18 seconds remaining, Francisco netted his second goal of the game, assisted by Luke, to bring the score level at 8-8 heading into the final frame.
The Spartans opened the fourth quarter with two goals to regain a two-goal advantage. The first came at the 7:02 mark, followed by a five-meter goal at 6:23 to put San Jose State ahead, 10-8. The 'Eaters responded with three unanswered goals to reclaim the lead. Johann Thrall converted on the power play at 5:24, assisted by Gage Verdegaal, to pull UCI within one, 10-9. Thrall struck again at the 3:46 mark to even the score at 10-10, before Tyler Laymon found the back of the net at 2:54, off an assist from Verdegaal, to give the 'Eaters their first lead of the quarter, 11-10. The Spartans answered with two goals of their own, scoring at 2:31 and again on the power play at 1:35 to retake the lead, 12-11. With 1:22 remaining, Thrall completed his fourth-quarter hat trick, converting a pass from Verdegaal to tie the game at 12-12 and send the contest to overtime.
Luke opened the scoring in overtime with his second goal of the game at the 2:39 mark, putting the 'Eaters back in front, 13-12. Nico Assalian then came up with a crucial stop on a five-meter attempt to preserve UCI's lead. The Spartans answered with two goals, scoring at 1:51 and again on a penalty shot at 1:16 to regain the lead, 14-13. With 52 seconds remaining in the first overtime period, Samuel Bowman found the back of the net off a pass from Verdegaal to even the score at 14-14 at the end of the first overtime period.
Luke scored the lone goal of the second overtime period at the 1:55 mark, completing his hat trick and sealing the 'Eaters' thrilling 15-14 overtime victory.
UP NEXT: The 'Eaters host the UCI Mini Tournament next weekend, Sept. 26, where they will face LMU (10:20 a.m.) and Santa Clara (3 p.m.) at Anteater Aquatics Complex.
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Men's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Men's Water Polo
Defender
/ Men's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Men's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Men's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Men's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Men's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Men's Water PoloMonday, April 20
Monday, April 20
Thursday, February 26
Friday, November 21
