IRVINE, Calif. - In its last contest of the regular season, the 12th-ranked University of California San Diego men's water polo team dropped an 11-4 decision to sixth-ranked University of California Irvine in a non-conference tilt Wednesday evening in Irvine.
UC San Diego finishes the regular season with a 9-13 overall record. UC Irvine improves to 13-8 on the year.
Freshman Connor Turnbow-Lindenstadt, sophomore Cooper Milton, junior Collin Sullivan and sophomore Luka Vasiljevic had one goal apiece while sophomore Skyler Munatones tallied two steals and junior goalkeeper Sam Thompson made 16 saves.
The Tritons were shut out in the first and third quarters, scoring two goals in both the second and fourth quarters.
The Anteaters held a slight advantage in shots, 29-24, as UCI goalie Matej Matijevic made 18 stops in the cage. UCSD converted two of 10 power play opportunities and one of two penalty shots.
The hosts jumped out to a 4-0 lead that lasted into the second quarter before Turnbow-Lindenstadt scored on an extra man situation to put UC San Diego on the board. Milton fired a goal past Matijevic with 48 seconds left in the half, making it a 7-2 game.
UCI held the Tritons scoreless through the third quarter and through much of the fourth quarter until Vasiljevic made a penalty shot with just under two minutes left in the contest. Sullivan added a goal in the final minute to cap the scoring for both teams.
UCSD is 4-14 against ranked teams this season.
Next, the Tritons will host the Western Water Polo Association Championship Nov. 17-19 in La Jolla. UCSD is the second seed for the tournament.
UC Irvine 11, UC San Diego 4
UC Irvine 2 5 2 2 - 11
UC San Diego 0 2 0 2 - 4
Goals
UCSD: Connor Turnbow-Lindenstadt, Luka Vasiljevic, Collin Sullivan, Cooper Milton.
UCI: Lovre Milos 4, Antoine Lena 3, Kyle Trush, Robby Stieffel, Ryan Warde, Fynn Schuetze
Saves
UCSD: Sam Thompson 16
UCI: Matej Matijevic 18
#AllForOne
