No. 8 UCI Holds Off No. 18 Navy, 11-10, to Finish Homestand 3-0

Sunday, September 27

Irvine, Calif.

10 A.M.

UC Irvine

12-5

Navy

10-2

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Navy	2	1	3	4	10
UC Irvine	5	3	2	1	11

Photo by: Jacob Thompson

No. 8 UCI Holds Off No. 18 Navy, 11-10, to Finish Homestand 3-0

September 27, 2026 | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

By: Leah Fitzpatrick

IRVINE, Calif. – No. 8 UC Irvine men's water polo team defeated No. 18 Navy, 11-10, on Sunday morning at Anteater Aquatics Complex to finish the weekend homestand 3-0.

The 'Eaters and Midshipmen traded goals throughout the opening minutes of the first quarter, remaining deadlocked at 2-2 with four minutes to play. UCI then closed the frame on a 3-0 run to take a 5-2 lead into the second. The Anteaters continued to build their advantage in the second, holding Navy to just one goal while adding three of their own to take an 8-3 lead into halftime. Navy responded in the third, outscoring UCI 3-2 to cut the deficit to four, 10-6, heading into the final frame. The Midshipmen continued to battle in the fourth, outscoring the 'Eaters 4-1 to pull within one. However, UCI's early offensive surge proved to be the difference as the Anteaters held on for the 11-10 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS: Junior Johann Thrall led the 'Eaters with three goals.

Senior Alex Lopez and juniors Cole Francisco and Jayson Hubbard each recorded three points on two goals and one assist.

Keegan McGann and Ethan Spoon each tallied one goal.

Freshman Nico Assalian recorded seven saves and one steal in net.

James Mulvey paced the Midshipmen with four points on two goals and two assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Midshipmen struck first, capitalizing on an early power play to take a 1-0 lead at the 7:33 mark. The 'Eaters answered at 5:57 when Charlie Jones drew an exclusion and Johann Thrall converted on the ensuing power play, with Cole Francisco providing the assist to knot the game at 1-1. Francisco then put UCI in front with a goal at 4:15, but Navy responded just 20 seconds later to even the score at 2-2. The Anteaters closed the quarter on a 3-0 run to take control. Ethan Spoon started the surge with a goal off an assist from Jayson Hubbard at the 2:21 mark. Thrall added his second of the quarter at 1:31, converting on a pass from Ryan Fresca to extend the lead to 4-2. Hubbard capped the scoring with 41 seconds remaining, giving UCI a 5-2 advantage heading into the second quarter.

The Anteaters continued to build their lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Midshipmen 3-1 to take an 8-3 advantage into halftime. Alex Lopez opened the scoring at the 5:59 mark before Keegan McGann found the back of the net at 3:36 to extend UCI's lead to 7-2. Navy answered with its lone goal of the quarter at 1:37, cutting the deficit to four, 7-3. Francisco capped the scoring for the frame with 54 seconds remaining, restoring the Anteaters' five-goal advantage and sending UCI into halftime with an 8-3 lead.

Navy opened the third quarter with a goal at the 7:03 mark, but Thrall answered just 47 seconds later to complete his hat trick and restore UCI's five-goal advantage at 9-4. The Midshipmen responded with back-to-back goals at 5:54 and 4:41 to cut the Anteaters' lead to three, 9-6. UCI then earned a six-on-four advantage after Spoon drew two consecutive exclusions. The 'Eaters were unable to convert before the first exclusion expired, but capitalized on the ensuing five-on-four power play with four minutes remaining, as Hubbard found the back of the net off a pass from Lopez to extend UCI's lead to 10-6 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Midshipmen struck first in the fourth quarter, converting on a power play at the 7:07 mark to cut the Anteaters' lead to 10-7. Lopez then came up with a steal on the defensive end and went coast to coast for a goal at 6:17, restoring UCI's four-goal cushion at 11-7. Navy mounted a late comeback, scoring three unanswered goals at 3:33, 1:16 and 0:30 to pull within one. The Anteaters held firm in the final seconds, however, securing the 11-10 victory.

UP NEXT: The 'Eaters are back in action Friday, Oct. 2, for two games at the Gary Troyer Invitational, where they will face Whittier (11:30 a.m.) and Cal Lutheran (3:15 p.m.).