LA JOLLA, Calif. -Â Seventh-ranked UC San Diego was defeated 16-11 by No. 8 UC Irvine Saturday in Big West women's water polo action at Canyonview Aquatic Center.
With the loss, the Tritons fell to 11-10 overall and 1-1 in Big West action. The Anteaters improved to 9-9 on the season and 2-0 in the conference.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a one-point game at halftime with UC Irvine ahead 7-6. However, the Anteaters out-scored the Tritons 9-5 in the second half.
The game featured 20 power play opportunities between the two squads. UCI was 5-for-9 (.556) while UC San Diego went 5-for-11 (.455). The Tritons were whistled for three five-meter penalty fouls and the Anteaters made good on two of those.
A goal by Lauren Hett with 24 seconds remaining in the second quarter put UC Irvine up 7-6 and the Anteaters led the rest of the way.
UC San Diego had early leads.
Lucia Doak scored the game's first goal 33 seconds in. UC Irvine quickly tied it up but a
Caroline Christl power play goal at the five-minute mark put the Tritons back in front, 2-1. That would be the last time UC San Diego would have a lead.
The Anteaters scored the next three goals and led 4-2 late in the opening stanza.
UC San Diego tied the game three more times at 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6 before Hett's goal put her team ahead for good.
Two Tritons had multiple goals including four for
Kendall Thomas and three for Christl.
Emily Cloherty,
Courtney Okumura, and
Abigail Schechter joined Doak with single goals.
Goalie
Lexi Stahl made eight saves and added a steal for the Tritons.
For the Anteaters, Hett finished with a game-high five goals. Libby Alexander recorded a hat trick. Rachel Kirchner had 10 saves and two steals in net for UCI.
WHAT HEAD COACH BRAD KREUTZKAMP HAD TO SAY
TRITON TIDBITS
• Triton head coach
Brad Kreutzkamp was recognized before the game for winning his 300th career game earlier this season.
•
Caroline Christl extended her goal scoring streak to 15 games.
• Christl has scored 20 goals over her last four outings.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego hosts three consecutive games next week. On Friday, March 14 at 6 p.m., the Tritons entertain Big West opponent Cal State Fullerton. The next day, they host two non-conference games, Harvard at 2 p.m. and Michigan at 6 p.m. Tickets are available through the
Triton Box Office.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
