Anteaters win twice at NorCal

UC Irvine senior Jeff Powers stole the ball and passed to

sophomore Dan Noon, who scored the game-winning goal against

fifth-ranked Pepperdine Saturday as the UC Irvine’s men’s water polo

team advanced to the semifinals of the NorCal Men’s Water Polo

Tournament at Diablo Valley College.

UC Irvine is now 3-0 against Pepperdine this year.

The Anteaters (8-2) face seventh-ranked UCLA in a semifinal match

today at 11 a.m. at the Spieker Aquatics Complex in Berkeley.

Sophomore Dreason Barry led the ‘Eaters with four goals and Powers

added two. Senior goalie Doug Finfrock recorded eight saves as

Pepperdine (5-4) was led by Jesse Smith’s four goals and three from

Josh Acosta.

Barry scored with 5:33 remaining to give UC Irvine a 9-8 lead, but

the Waves’ Michael Hausmann evened the game at 9 with a goal with

4:01 remaining.

In the ‘Eaters’ first game Saturday, Powers scored five goals and

Barry scored four in the 13-4 win over 20th-ranked Air Force.

Finfrock made 12 saves as UC Irvine led 8-1 at halftime.

NORCAL TOURNAMENT

UC Irvine 13, Air Force 4

Halftime: UCI, 8-1.

AF -- Horn 1, Morgan 1, Peterson 1, Baber 1. Saves -- Shroyer 6.

UCI -- Powers 5, Barry 4, Noon 1, Merlo 1, Garcia 1, Gentry 1.

Saves -- Finfrock 12.

UC Irvine 10, Pepperdine 9 Halftime: UCI, 6-3.

Pep -- Smith 4, Acosta 3, Rodriguez 1, Hausmann 1. Saves -- Soltis

9.

UCI - Barry 4, Powers 2, Merlo 1, Gentry 1, Garcia 1, Noon 1.

Saves -- Finfrock 8.