Anteaters Edge Out UC Davis, 12-11, With Thrall's Game Winner

DAVIS, Calif. – Attacker Johann Thrall put away the game winning goal for No. 8/8 UC Irvine with 1:02 left in the match to narrowly edge out No. 10/11 UC Davis, 12-11, inside the Schaal Aquatics Center.
 
The Anteaters were down most of the contest, equalizing the score 8-all at 4:31 in the third period before taking their first lead of the contest, 11-10, 6:14 in the final frame. Thrall was remarkable for UCI as he scored a game best four goals, drew five exclusions, and added a steal.
 
With the win, UC Irvine clinched at least a share of the Big West regular season title and a spot in the Big West Championship semifinals hosted by the Aggies later this month (Nov. 22-24). UCI remains the only team undefeated in league play.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Tyler Padua and Ethan Shipman each contributed two goals
• Jackson Matos, Luka Krstic, Tyler Laymon, and Ethan Spoon rounded out the scoring with a goal apiece
• UCI out-shot UCD, 28-26
• Goalkeeper Jacob Pyle stopped five shots from finding the back of the cage
• Alex Lopez dished out three assists, both a career and game high
• No. 10/11 UC Davis was led by Thomas Kiesling with three goals

SCORING BREAKDOWN

• First period: No. 10/11 UC Davis roared in the opening four minutes of the contest to place three into the back of the net before No. 8/8 UC Irvine could get on the board. The Aggies were called out for an exclusion that allowed Johann Thrall (3:35) to bury the ball into the goal off the pass from Alex Lopez and then Lopez helped Tyler Laymon find the back of the cage at 2:56. Thrall converted the five-meter with ten seconds left in the period brought UCI within striking distance, 4-3.
  • Thrall (2) and Laymon (1)
• Second period: The Aggies put away three unanswered again to start the second stanza and push their advantage. Lopez connected again with Thrall (3:11) to stop the scoring by UCD. A minute later, Ethan Spoon shot and scored at 2:13 to close within two, 7-5, going into the halftime break.
  • Spoon (1) and Thrall (1)
• Third period: After UC Davis pushed their lead back out to three, the mighty Anteaters strung together goals from Ethan Shipman (6:43), Luka Krstic (6:22), and Tyler Padua (4:31) to tie the contest 8-all. After the Aggies reclaimed the lead at 2:07, Jackson Matos settled the score with one of his own at 1:18. UCD converted a five-meter penalty at 0:26 to lead at the end of three periods, 10-9.
  • Krstic (1), Matos (1), Padua (1), Shipman (1)
• Fourth period: No. 8/8 UC Irvine bounced right back as they won the opening sprint and found Padua (7:42) who was in prime position to score. The Anteaters took their first lead of the night at the 6:14 mark on Shipman's strike. UC Davis equalized, 11-11, on the power play chance. With 1:02 on the clock, Thrall netted the eventual game winning goal on the counterattack after the Aggies costly turnover. UCI's defense stepped up with a crucial save from Jacob Pyle for the 12-11 win.
  • Padua (1), Shipman (1), and Thrall (1)

 
UP NEXT
UCI remains in the northern part of the state with a 12 p.m. meeting on Nov. 3 with No. 12/13 San Jose State.