IRVINE, Calif. --- No. 5 UCI and No. 3 UCLA battled to the very end Thursday night at Anteater Aquatics Complex with the Bruins escaping with the 6-5 victory.
UCLA (12-1) got the game-winner from Mackenzie Barr just inside the left post and past a diving Jillian Yocum with 1:36 left in the match to put UCLA up for good.
The lead flipped a few times during the match. UCLA trailed 1-0 early before taking its first lead, 2-1, off Barr's first goal at the 6:10 mark in the second period.
UCI (9-4) snatched the lead right back with successive goals in less than a minute from Jessy Cardey and Hannah Croghan at the 2:02 mark just before the half.
McKenna Mitchell's three-skip goal with 1:37 left in the third put UCI back ahead entering the fourth period. UCLA tied it back up 1:27 into the fourth from Kodi Hill, but Jessy Cardey fired a fall-away snap shot from the point to grab the lead back two minutes later before UCLA's push.
Both keepers performed admirably with seven saves aside for Sami Hill and Jillian Yocum including two steals from Yocum early on.
In addition to her two goals, Cardey grabbed a pair of steals, an assist, and had five of her six shots on goal. Danielle Warde had two steals as well along with a pair of shots on goal. Hillary Estrada got the scoring going in the first and wound up with a steal and two earned exclusions.
UCI will now prepare for one of the top annual tournament as they host the eighth annual UC Irvine Invitational Feb. 22-23. The 'Eaters match up with UC Davis in the opening round at 11:45 a.m.
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UCI goals: Jessy Cardey (2), Hannah Croghan, McKenna Mitchell, Hillary Estrada
UCLA goals: Emily Donohoe (2), Mackenzie Barr (2), Rachel Fattal, Kodi Hill
Saves: Jillian Yocum (UCI) – 7; Sami Hill (UCLA) – 7
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