No. 8 University of California, Irvine men’s water polo team narrowly defeated No. 18 Navy 11-10 on September 27, 2026, at the Anteater Aquatics Complex in Irvine, California, completing a perfect 3-0 homestand.
The match featured a strong start from UC Irvine, which took a 5-2 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 8-3 by halftime. Navy fought back in the second half, outscoring UC Irvine 7-3 in the final two quarters and pulling within one goal late in the match.
Junior attacker Johann Thrall led UC Irvine with three goals. Senior Alex Lopez and juniors Cole Francisco and Jayson Hubbard each contributed two goals and one assist, tallying three points apiece. Freshman goalkeeper Nico Assalian made seven saves and recorded one steal to support the defense. For Navy, James Mulvey led with two goals and two assists, totaling four points.
CSB Take
The UC Irvine men’s water polo team displayed an effective offensive surge early and managed to hold on despite a strong comeback effort from Navy. The balance of scoring across multiple players and solid goalkeeping from a freshman highlight the team’s depth and resilience. Completing an undefeated homestand sets a positive tone as UC Irvine prepares for upcoming competition in the Gary Troyer Invitational.
Source: Original report
