LA JOLLA, Calif. - Vedran Latkovic struck for a career-high eight goals to lead the 12th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team to a 14-8 win against No. 10 UC Irvine Thursday on Senior Night at Canyonview Aquatic Center.

The Tritons complete their regular season with an even 12-12 record. The Anteaters fell to 14-11.

Prior to the start of the game, UC San Diego's eight seniors - Manuel Augusto, Max Carrillo, Konstantin Karlov, Latkovic, Connor McManigal, Alexander Nemeth, Brendan Nugent, and Will Riley - were recognized.

HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego held a lead throughout the game. The Tritons took a 3-0 advantage as the senior trio of Riley, Augusto, and Latkovic got things going in the first quarter. 

With UC San Diego ahead 4-2 after the opening period, both teams scored three goals in the second quarter.

The Tritons tallied seven goals in the second half, five of those coming in the third quarter. In addition to their offensive prowess, they held the Anteaters to just three goals over the third and fourth quarters. 

Latkovic scored two goals in the first quarter, three in the second, two in the third, and ended his night with one more in the fourth.

Augusto contributed six points with two goals and four assists. The four helpers equaled his career-high, which he set in 2021.

Brendon Fezzey and Miles Wilson both had a goal and an assist.

Nemeth not only made eight saves in net, he also figured in a quartet of Triton goals by dishing out a career-high four assists.

Ethan Shipman had two goals for UC Irvine. Six other Anteaters scored one goal apiece. Goalkeeper Jacob Pyle had 11 saves in the loss.

HEAR FROM SENIOR ALEXANDER NEMETH


TRITON TIDBITS
• Vedran Latkovic's previous career-high for goals in a game was six, which he has done twice.
• The senior class combined for 12 goals and eight assists.
• UC San Diego avenged a 10-5 loss to UC Irvine in early September during the Triton Invitational.

UP NEXT
UC San Diego heads to Los Angeles next week as the third seed in the WWPA Championship, hosted by Loyola Marymount November 18-20. The Tritons open play against California Baptist, the sixth seed, on Friday at noon. For a complete schedule and ticket information, visit Tournament Central.

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About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions III and II and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.