Balanced Scoring Lifts UCI Over Westcliff, 24-12

IRVINE, Calif. – Fourteen different Anteaters found the back of the cage in the 24-12 victory over Westcliff inside the Anteater Aquatics Complex in a Saturday matinee.
 
Tyler Padua, Gage Verdegaal, and Ethan Spoon all notched hat-tricks in the contest to pace UCI's scoring effort.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Johann Thrall, Brody Luke, Ben Youngblood, and Wyley Dale rounded out the multi-goal scorers for the 'Eaters with two apiece
• Samuel Otta, Cole Francisco, Alex Lopez, Jack Stevens, Keegan McGann, Maddox McEwen, and Jasper Dale each contributed a goal
• UCI out shot Westcliff, 49-30
• Senior Zayd Mahmoud played the first period in the cage where he blocked three shots
• Senior Aidan Byrne recorded six saves in 24 minutes
• J. Dale, Padua, Thrall, and Jackson Matos dished out two assists each
• Otta recorded a game high four drawn exclusions
• Westcliff was led by Manuel Augusto who recorded four goals and three drawn exclusions

SCORING BREAKDOWN

• First period: No. 9/10 UC Irvine started off hot as Tyler Padua (7:50) netted the first goal of the contest just ten seconds in. Westcliff quickly answered at 7:35 to equalize. The Anteaters then strung together a 6-0 run over the next seven minutes to reclaim the lead. A deep shot from Brody Luke (0:22) was in between two Warrior scores for the 8-3 lead.
  • Padua (2), Luke (1), Otta (1), Spoon (1), Stevens (1), Thrall (1), and Verdegaal (1)
• Second period: UCI picked up where they left off with a barred in shot from Keegan McGann (7:04) before the Warriors had a response at 5:17. Gage Verdegaal (3:33, 2:54) went back-to-back with an outside banger and bounce into the far post. Westcliff converted the five-meter then Samuel Otta fed Padua (1:49) in the center and Alex Lopez (1:14) went cross cage. The Anteaters found the back of the net twice in the final 38 seconds to take a 15-6 advantage into the half.
  • Verdegaal (2), Lopez (1), McGann (1), Padua (1), Spoon (1), and Thrall (1)
• Third period: Just 12 seconds into the new half, Cole Francisco (7:48) buried a dagger from far out and then 30 seconds later Ethan Spoon blasted one into the far side of the goal. Westcliff poured in three unanswered (5:35, 2:06, 1:36) until Wyley Dale halted the run at 0:52 with his penalty shot make. Ben Youngblood placed the ball into the nearside of the cage as time expired to end the period up 19-10.  
  • W. Dale (1), Francisco (1), Spoon (1), and Youngblood (1)
• Fourth period: Youngblood went again at 6:42, Luke ripped in center at 6:00, and Jasper Dale netted one at 4:59 as part of a three-goal run for UCI. The Anteaters responded to a two-goal spurt from Westcliff with two of their own at 3:11 and 2:25 for the 24-12 victory.
  • J. Dale (1), Luke (1), McEwen (1), Youngblood (1)

 
UP NEXT
No. 9/10 UC Irvine continues their homestand with a conference meeting with No. 16/15 UC Santa Barbara (Oct. 26) and a rematch with No. 5/9 Pepperdine (Oct. 27).