‘Eaters claim fifth

The UC Irvine men’s water polo team won two games Sunday to finish

fifth in the Southern California tournament at USC’s McDonald’s Swim

Stadium.

Rick Merlo and Dreason Barry scored three goals each to lead No.

5-ranked UCI past No. 6 Pepperdine, 10-5, in the fifth-place game.

Colin Mello added two goals for the Anteaters (7-2), who led, 4-0,

after the first quarter.

UCI junior goalie Joe Wynne recorded 10 saves.

Matthew MacDonell led the Waves (4-3) with three goals.

The Anteaters defeated No. 10 UC Santa Barbara, 7-3, in a

consolation semifinal Sunday on the strength of two goals each by

Merlo and Barry.

Wynne had seven saves as UCI held the Gauchos scoreless in the

second and fourth quarters.

Ross Sinclair, a sophomore out of Newport Harbor High, led UCSB

with two goals and goalie Jon Bonafede had 10 saves.

The Anteaters host No. 3 UCLA in UCI’s home opener Saturday night

at 7.

Bears edge Anteaters

* SOCCER: The UC Irvine women’s soccer team lost at Baylor, 2-1,

Sunday in Waco, Texas.

UCI sophomore Lauryn Birkinshaw opened the scoring in the 11th

minute by beating Bear goalkeeper Ashley Holder one-on-one.

Baylor’s Margaret Kaderli tied the game on a header off assists

from Brittani Zonker and Anna Schuch in the 21st minute.

Then, in the 83rd minute, Kaderli scored again with an assist by

Jennifer Martin.

Sophomore goalkeeper Marissa Welliver had five saves for the

Anteaters (3-4-1).

Baylor improved to 3-3-1.

UCI plays host to Loyola Marymount Lions Friday at 7 p.m. at

Anteater Stadium. UCI plays visiting USC Sunday at 1 p.m.

Futures event on tap

* TENNIS: The Costa Mesa Tennis Center will host the Diadora

Pro-Championship, a United States Tennis Association men’s $15,000

Futures event, today through Sunday.

The event features 32 singles players with 16 doubles teams.

Players ranked Nos. 150-900 on the Association of Tennis

Professionals Tour typically compete in Futures events.

Admission is free.