IRVINE, Calif. — No. 7-ranked/host the University of California-Irvine received goals from 10 athletes as the Anteaters overwhelmed No. 21 Brown University, 14-5, at the Anteater Aquatics Complex.
Tied at three-all after the first quarter, UC-Irvine exploited 3-1 scoring advantages in the second and third quarters prior to tacking on a 5-0 outburst in the final eight minutes of competition to garner a nine-goal victory.
For the Anteaters, Lauren Hett and Sara Naulty both contributed hat-tricks with three goals, while Avy Newton, Jensine Bugelli, Libby Alexander, Grace Helbert, Madi O’Hara, Gabby Norris, Maja Layden and Kili Skibby each tossed in solo markers. Faith Tedeso earned the win in cage with five saves and four goals allowed during the first half. Rachel Kirchner wrapped up the victory by turning aside five shots and permitting a score in the second half.
Hanna Tidrenczel led the way for Brown with three goals and Ella Palmer deposited a pair with an assist in the defeat. Sophie Golub picked up two assists for Brown. Goalkeeper Roxanne Hazuka finished the game with nine saves.
UC-Irvine jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the contest as Alexander (5;42) and Helberg (5:04) dented the twine prior to Tidrenczel putting the Bears on the board at the 4:05 and 3:28 marks of the first quarter with natural and penalty shot strikes, respectively. Norris put the Anteaters ahead at 3:05, but Palmer put away an equalizer at 2:30 as the teams exited the first eight minutes of competition deadlocked at three-all.
Skibby (6:10) and Naulty (4:48) put the Anteaters in front to stay by digging up tallies in the first four minutes of the second quarter to stake UC-Irvine to a 5-3 lead. Palmer chipped a goal off the Bears’ deficit at 3:09, but Hett (1:01) delivered in the waning minutes of the first half to allow the home team to enter the break clutching a 6-4 margin on the scoreboard.
Hett struck again 28 seconds into the third quarter to make it a 7-4 contest with 7;32 left in the frame. Naulty (4:44) followed to double-up Brown at 8-4, but Tidrenczel completed her hat-trick with a man-up heave at 3:29 to inch the Bears back to within three at 8-5.
Bugelli terminated the comeback try with 1:01 left in the third quarter to ignite a 6-0 Anteaters’ run to the final horn as O’Hara (6:26), Naulty (5:17), Hett (4:12), Layden (1:02) and Newton (16 seconds) combined for a 5-0 outburst in the fourth quarter.
