No. 16 ‘Eaters Journey to No. 10 UC San Diego, Host No. 7 San Jose State This Week

IRVINE, Calif. – No. 16 UC Irvine males’s water polo travels to No. 10 UC San Diego for a Big West match up on Friday, Nov. 7, at 6 p.m. at Canyonview Aquatic Center. The ‘Eaters return to Anteater Aquatics Complex on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 12 p.m., as they host No. 7 San Jose State for Senior Day. 

ANTEATER TIDBITS

• UCI moved to 2-2 in Big West play after falling to No. 9 Long Beach State, 12-13, on Oct. 30

• The ‘Eaters dropped to 14-10 on the season after falling to No. 13 Pepperdine, 10-12, on Nov. 1.

• Johann Thrall led the ‘Eaters with 10 objectives, bringing his season whole to 54.

• Zayd Mahmoud recorded a season-high 14 saves in opposition to Long Beach State. 

• The ‘Eaters received back-to-back Big West common season titles in 2023 and 2024.

• The Anteaters are 9-1 in convention throughout that stretch, together with an ideal 5-0 mark final 12 months.

• They additionally claimed the Big West Championship title and made their first NCAA look in 30 years in 2023.

• UCI returns practically 80% of its scoring from a 2024 squad that netted a single-season college report 400 objectives.

IN THE RANKINGS

UCI moved as much as No. 16 within the newest Collegiate Water Polo Association rankings launched on November 5. The Anteaters drop one spot after going 0-2 this week. 

SCOUTING THE TRITONS

No. 10 UC San Diego has received two of its final three video games to enhance to 18-8 on the season and 1-3 in Big West play. The Tritons defeated No.13 Princeton, 10-9, on Oct. 18, earlier than falling to No. 6 UC Davis, 10-11, in s Sudden Victory thriller on Oct. 25. UCSD defeated Cal State Fullerton, 16-11, on Oct. 30, for his or her first Big West win. Senior Eamon Hennessey leads the Tritons with 46 objectives, adopted by Senior Axline Bennett with 39 objectives. Redshirt Freshman Alex Hegeman has recorded 170 saves for UCSD. 

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS

No. 7 San Jose State has received two of its final three video games to enhance to 10-6 on the season. The Spartans defeated Pomona-Pitzer, 14-9, on Oct. 25 on the Julian Fraser Memorial, earlier than falling to No. 5 Fordham, 9-10, on Oct. 26. San Jose State defeated Air Force, 14-9, on Nov. 2, and can face California Baptist on Nov. 8 earlier than dealing with the ‘Eaters. Sophomore Samu Biros leads the Spartans with 42 objectives, adopted by Freshman Sam Keightley with 34 tallies on the 12 months. Junior Brendon Gyapjas has compiled 140 saves for San Jose State. 

LAST TIME OUT

UC Irvine dropped their second Big West match up of the season in opposition to No. 9 Long Beach State, 12-13, on Oct. 30. Johann Thrall netted six and added one help for a seven-point outing. Zayd Mahmoud stopped a season-high 14 in opposition to the Beach. The ‘Eaters fell to No. 13 Pepperdine, 10-12, on Nov. 1. Thrall discovered the again of the web 4 instances whereas Mahmoud stopped 12 stops for the Anteaters. 

ON THE ATTACK

UC Irvine has scored 10+ objectives in 21 of its 24 outings. The Anteaters’ three single-digit purpose video games this 12 months got here in opposition to No. 1 UCLA, No. 2 USC, and No. 15 Princeton. The ‘Eaters, who’re averaging 14.0 objectives per contest, have 5 gamers with 30+ objectives on the season. Johann Thrall leads the squad with 54 tallies on the 12 months. Luka Krstic is UCI’s second-leading scorer with 40, adopted by Wyley Dale with 32, and Ethan Spoon and Cole Francisco, every with 30. Spoon and Francisco have every reached the 30-goal membership for the primary time of their careers. 

MINDING THE NET

Senior goalkeeper Zayd Mahmoud began 19 of UCI’s 22 video games this 12 months, logging over 550 minutes within the cage. He has compiled 163 saves and a 11.48 objectives in opposition to common. Mahmoud stopped a season-high 14 pictures vs. Long Beach State on Oct. 30. Junior Blake Borders earned the beginning in opposition to Cal Lutheran (Sept. 6) and Biola (Sept. 27), ending with seven and 9 saves. Redshirt freshman Vincent Vega bought the nod vs. UC Santa Barbara (Sept. 20) and Occidental (Sept. 27), logging 9 saves in opposition to the Tigers. Redshirt Sophomore Nolan Cary bought his first begin in opposition to Concordia and stopped a season-best 11 pictures. 

COLLEGIATE FIRSTS

Freshman Dylan Rosmann recorded his first multi-goal sport in a 16-7 win over Biola (Sept. 27). Freshman Samuel Bowman scored his first collegiate purpose with 1:35 left within the third quarter of a 21-7 victory over Concordia. Bowman struck once more one minute later to cap a seven-goal interval for the Anteaters. Rosmann additionally related for his first profession purpose in a 13-12 win over UC Santa Barbara (Sept. 20). Sophomore Keegan McGann had the primary multi-goal sport of his collegiate profession with two tallies in opposition to Cal State Fullerton, whereas sophomore Maddox McEwen netted a career-high 4 objectives vs. Cal Lutheran. 

WEEKLY ACCOLADES

Cole Francisco was named Big West Player of the Week for the second time in his profession, on Oct 22. He tallied 10 factors on 4 objectives and 6 assists in opposition to two top-15 ranked groups. Ethan Spoon was named the Big West Player of the Week for the primary time in his profession, on Oct. 1. Spoon recorded 10 objectives on the Lancer Joust and netted a career-high six in opposition to Occidental. Luka Krstic was named the Big West Player of the Week for the primary time this season, and fifth time in his profession, on Sept. 17. Krstic had a pair of multi-goal video games in opposition to the top-two ranked groups within the nation, ending with two at No. 1 UCLA and three vs. No. 2 USC. 

PRESEASON HONORS

Seniors Luka Krstic and Jack Stevens had been named to the eight-member Preseason All-Big West Team as voted on by the convention’s head coaches. Krstic is coming off a 2024 marketing campaign through which he led the Anteaters with 80 factors on 52 objectives and 28 assists. He is a two-time All-American and first-team All-Big West choice. Stevens completed with 30 objectives and 12 assists a 12 months in the past. He is a two-time All-Big West honoree. As a workforce, UCI was picked to complete third within the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll. The ‘Eaters obtained 18 factors to come back in behind Long Beach State (29) and UC San Diego (20).

ALL-BIG WEST RETURNERS

The Anteaters return 5 All-Big West honorees from a 2024 squad that received their second-straight regular-season title. Luka Krstic was named to the primary workforce, and Johann Thrall garnered second-team distinction. Cole Francisco and Jack Stevens had been each honorable point out choices, whereas Francisco and Ethan Spoon made the All-Freshman Team.

STORIED HISTORY

UC Irvine males’s water polo is in its sixtieth 12 months as a program, and 59th season of competitors (2020 season canceled). Since 1965, the Anteaters have put collectively 17 seasons with 20 or extra wins, together with an ideal 30-0 marketing campaign in 1982 after they received the second of their three NCAA Championships (1970, 1982, 1988). The ‘Eaters, who earned a spot in every of the primary 10 NCAA tournaments, have made 22 postseason appearances.

HOME SWEET HOME

UCI is ready to host the 2025 Big West Championships at Anteater Aquatics Complex, November 21-23. The convention match will make its approach to Irvine after being held in La Jolla in 2023 and in Davis in 2024.