UC Irvine Rallies Late But Falls to UCLA 8-7

Oct. 24, 2009

IRVINE, Calif. --- Seventh-ranked UC Irvine staged a furious rally but No. 4 UCLA scored last to win 8-7 in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation game at Anteater Pool Saturday night.

The Bruins (14-5, 1-2 MPSF) took a 7-2 lead on a goal by Ben Hohl with 3:32 left in the third quarter before UCI stormed back.

The `Eaters' Brandon Johnson scored on a penalty shot with 57 seconds left in the third quarter to pull UCI within 7-3 entering the final quarter.

The Anteaters (13-6, 1-1) scored the first four goals of the fourth quarter on scores by Trent Baxter (6:48), Johnson (5:24), Baxter again (3:48) and Doug Lindsey on a power-play goal at the 2:38 mark to draw even at 7-7.

Hohl scored on an extra-man opportunity with 1:46 remaining to put the Bruins up 8-7.

UCI went on the power play in the final minute but could not convert and UCLA ran out the clock.

Johnson and Baxter led the `Eaters with two goals each while Hohl and Brett Hays led UCLA with three apiece.

UCI, which saw its seven-game winning streak snapped, travels north next weekend to face California Saturday and Pacific Sunday in MPSF games at noon.

UCLA         1 - 3 - 3 - 1 --- 8
UC Irvine   1 - 0 - 2 - 4 --- 7

UCLA: Brett Hays 3, Ben Hohl 3, Scott Swanson, Bret Lathrope.

UCI: Brandon Johnson 2, Trent Baxter 2, Griffin Lerman, Tom Kruip, Doug Lindsey.

Saves: Chay Lapin (UCLA) 4; Matt Johnson (UCI) 4.