Anteaters advance to semis

The third-ranked UC Irvine men’s water polo team went undefeated

in both of its games Saturday to advance to Sunday’s championship

semifinals of the Southern California Tournament at USC.

UCI, behind seven goals from senior Jeff Powers, topped

10th-ranked UC Santa Barbara, 13-4, in the Anteaters’ first game

Saturday. Sophomore Dreason Barry added three goals and junior

Garrett Gentry scored twice, while senior goalie Doug Finfrock

recorded eight saves. UCI led 7-1 after one quarter and 10-2 at

halftime.

In the second game of the day, UCI built a 5-0 lead midway through

the second quarter and hung on to defeat fourth-ranked Pepperdine,

8-7.

Sophomore Rick Merlo led the Anteaters with three goals and Gentry

added two. Finfrock had nine saves in the victory for UCI, which

improved to 3-0 overall this season.

The Anteaters will face Pacific in one semifinal at 11:30 a.m.

today. The 11th-ranked Tigers upset No. 2 USC, 8-7, Saturday to

advance to the championship bracket.

UCI 13, UCSB 4

Score by Quarters

UC Santa Barbara 1 1

1 1 - 4

UC Irvine 7 3 2

1 - 13

UCSB -Schoneberger (2), Borasi (1), Arthur (1). Saves --

Kim 2.

UCI -Powers (7), Barry (3), Gentry (2), White (1). Saves --

Finfrock 8.

UCI 8, Pepperdine 7

Score by Quarters

UC Irvine 3 2 2

1 - 8

Pepperdine 0 3 2

2 - 7

UCI -Merlo (3), Gentry (2), Powers (1), Noon (1), Barry

(1). Saves -- Finfrock 9.

Pep -Smith (2), Niehaus (2), Matthies (1), Hausmann (1), Acosta

(1). Saves -- Soltis 6.