SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- No. 5 UC Irvine closed out its stay at the UCSB Gaucho Invite Saturday evening with a 15-10 victory over Azusa Pacific for its first of the year.

UCI (1-1) rolled through the opening frame to lead 5-0 thanks to four goal scorers.

Azusa Pacific (0-4) reeled the 'Eaters back to within two before two late goals extended the margin to 7-3 at the half.

The 'Eaters built an impressive lead entering the fourth quarter following a seven-goal period backed by two-goal performances from Hanna Lancaster and Raegan Castillo.

APU turned it up down the stretch with five goals in the final period to close the gap with a final of 15-10.

The Anteaters split the weekend, and now will get two weeks to prepare for its next matchup which will be a trip to northern California for the Stanford Invite Feb. 6-7.

	1	2	3	4	F
UCI	5	2	7	1	15
APU	0	3	2	5	10

UCI goals: Hanna Lancaster (3), Raegen Castillo (2), Kelli Baumgardner (2), Keana Eldridge (2), Mary Brooks, Destene Albers, Emily Carlson, Natalie Seideman, Tess de Lange, Jolene Viramontes

APU goals: Espinar (3), Bachelor (3), Haynes (2), Taylor, Myers

Saves: Annika Nelson (UCI) – 4, Jenna Phreaner (UCI) – 5, Riley Shaw (UCI) – 0; Margot (APU) – N/A

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