UC Irvine
UC San Diego
'Eaters' Effort Edged by Cal, 6-5
May 08, 2015 | Women's Water Polo
PALO ALTO, Calif. --- UC Irvine clawed its way back from an early deficit to go down to the wire in its NCAA First Round match at Avery Aquatics Center, but could not come away with the victory falling, 6-5, to fourth-seeded Cal Friday evening.
The Anteaters (19-9) found themselves down by a 3-1 score after one period despite opening up the scoring just over a minute in from Mary Brooks. Everything continued to go Cal's way with a goal in the first 30 seconds of the second quarter followed by a remarkable save from Bear keeper Madeline Trabucco reaching back to snag McKenna Mitchell's backhand shot just 30 seconds later keeping the score at 4-1.
Mackenzie Milham got the comeback going at the 5:53-mark of the second quarter. Brooks fought with through her defender exactly a minute later to fire a skip shot as the shot clock expired to cut the score to 4-3 heading into the half.
UCI opened the second half continuing its defensive ways and adding some more scoring as Emily Carlson fed Kelsey Thornton who put away a pair of skip-shots at the 5:45 and 4:09 marks of the third period giving the Anteaters the brief, 5-4 lead.
Cal (20-7) answered quickly tying the match 38 seconds later at 5-5 where the match would stay for the next nine minutes.
Senior Jillian Yocum withstood several barrages including a bounding skip-shot at the end of the third period to keep it tied, 5-5.
Cal turned up the heat in the fourth period outshooting the 'Eaters, 9-1, and finally breaking through with 2:54 to go with the eventual game-winner on its third consecutive possession. The game would end on a steal by Dora Antal, to go along with her two goals, allowing the Golden Bears to run down the clock.
Yocum knocked down 11 shots and added a steal on the evening against nine saves from Trabucco.
Danielle Warde contributed an assist alongside Carlson's two. In addition to the goals, Brooks had a pair of field blocks.
"I couldn't be prouder of the effort," Head Coach Dan Klatt praised. "I really thought we came to play."
His 'Eaters did including a 4-0 stretch where they eventually took the lead over the span of 12 minutes.
The 'Eaters will draw UC San Diego on Saturday, May 9, at 1:45 p.m. to begin its trek into the consolation bracket.
[4] CAL 6, [5] UC IRVINE 5
UCI (19-9) | CAL (20-7)
May 8, 2015
Avery Aquatics Center – NCAA First Round
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
F |
|
UCI |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
|
CAL |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
UCI goals: Mary Brooks (2), Kelsey Thornton (2), Mackenzie Milham
CAL goals: Roser Tarrago (2), Dora Antal (2), Kelly McKee, Tiera Schroeder
Saves: Jillian Yocum (UCI) – 11; Madeline Trabucco (CAL) – 9
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