‘Eaters Open Inland Empire Classic with 16-6 Win over Redlands

Friday, September 4

Redlands, CA

9 A.M

UC Irvine

4-1

Redlands

0-3

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
UC Irvine	6	1	6	3	16
Redlands	1	1	1	3	6

Photo by: Jake Hamlin

‘Eaters Open Inland Empire Classic with 16-6 Win over Redlands

September 04, 2026 | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

By: Leah Fitzpatrick

IRVINE, Calif. – No. 13 UC Irvine men's water polo opened the Inland Empire Classic with a dominant 16-6 victory over tournament host Redlands on Friday morning.

The 'Eaters came out firing in the opening frame, finding the back of the net six times while holding the Bulldogs to just one goal. Both teams added one goal in the second quarter, sending UCI into halftime with a 7-2 advantage. UCI continued its offensive momentum in the third, matching its first-quarter output with six more goals while limiting Redlands to one. The Anteaters carried a commanding 13-3 lead into the final frame. Both squads found the net three times in the fourth quarter, but the 'Eaters' early offensive surge proved too much as UCI secured the 16-6 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS: Senior Wyley Dale paced the Anteater offense with a hat trick and an assist for a four-point performance. Juniors Keegan McGann and Ethan Spoon each added two goals.

Sophomore Samuel Bowman turned in a three-point outing, scoring once and dishing out two assists.

Alex Lopez, Cole Francisco, Brody Luke, Ben Atkinson, Johann Thrall, River Davis, Tyler Laymon, and Maddox McEwen each found the back of the net once, while Gage Verdegaal, Jayson Hubbard, and Ryan Fresca contributed two assists apiece.

Sophomore Vincent Vega earned his first start in net, making seven saves in the victory.

Six different Bulldogs found the back of the net for Redlands.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Ben Atkinson opened the scoring at the 6:55 mark, with an assist from Ryan Fresca, before Alex Lopez quickly doubled the advantage with a goal on the man advantage at 6:04, assisted by Wyley Dale. Dale added a goal of his own just under a minute later, finding the back of the net at 5:08 with help from Samuel Bowman to put the 'Eaters ahead, 3-0. The Bulldogs answered with a power-play goal at 4:50, but Johann Thrall responded at 3:57 to restore UCI's three-goal cushion. Ethan Spoon extended the lead to 5-1 at 1:56, with Brody Luke picking up the assist. With just nine seconds remaining in the opening frame, Tyler Laymon drew a penalty, setting up Luke for a five-meter conversion to send the Anteaters into the second quarter with a commanding 6-1 lead.

The two sides traded just one goal apiece in the second period. Dale found the back of the net with the extra attacker at the 3:10 mark, with Bowman providing the assist to extend the Anteater advantage to 7-1. The Bulldogs answered with a goal at 2:35, but UCI maintained its five-goal cushion heading into halftime, leading 7-2.

The Anteaters wasted no time extending their lead in the third quarter, as Cole Francisco found the back of the net on the power play at the 7:15 mark, assisted by Jayson Hubbard. The Bulldogs answered with a power-play goal of their own at 6:47, but Tyler Laymon restored UCI's six-goal advantage at 5:13, converting on the man advantage with help from Ryan Fresca. River Davis added to the Anteater lead at 3:25, with Gage Verdegaal providing the assist, before Bowman struck on the power play at 1:53, again assisted by Verdegaal. Maddox McEwen added a goal at 1:21, and Ethan Spoon capped the offensive outburst with 35 seconds remaining, finding the back of the net with an assist from Dylan Rosmann. The six-goal third quarter sent UCI into the final frame with a commanding 13-3 lead.

Keegan McGann opened the final frame with back-to-back goals, striking at the 6:26 mark before finding the back of the net again at 5:18 with the extra attacker to extend the Anteater lead to 15-3. The Bulldogs answered with two goals of their own at 4:51 and 2:08, with the first coming on the power play, but UCI's lead remained firmly intact at 15-5. Dale then completed his hat trick at 1:52, with Hubbard providing the assist, before Redlands added the final goal of the game on the power play with 19 seconds remaining. The Anteaters' early offensive surge proved too much for the Bulldogs to overcome, as UCI closed out the Inland Empire Classic opener with a commanding 16-6 victory.

UP NEXT: The 'Eaters are back in action today at 12 p.m. to take on Cal Lutheran.