UPCOMING MATCHES
No. 2 UCLA Bruins at No. 9 UC Irvine Anteaters
Friday, Feb. 19, 2016 / 7:00 PM
Anteater Aquatics Complex
Game Program
TALKING TRITON
The 'Eaters continued an up-and-down start to the season finishing fifth in the UCSD Triton Invite pulling out three wins, but a tough defeat in the process.
The tournament started with a hard-earned victory over rival Long Beach State. After the 49ers jumped out to an early lead, Mary Brooks grabbed the match back with five second-period goals and six overall in the match to score the 9-7 victory.
The win set up another match with No. 7 UC Davis a week after UCI's 10-8 win. The Aggies jumped on the 'Eaters this time and did not let go scoring the match's first four goals and adding six in the second period to lead 11-4 by the half. UC Davis rode the match out to a 12-6 win sending UCI into the consolation side of the winner's bracket.
Sunday's action began with a match against No. 16 LMU. UCI separated itself as the match progressed with defenses taking over the second half allowing two goals combined in the 8-5 Anteater win.
The fifth-place match featured a match with the host Tritons of UC San Diego coming off a sudden death victory over UCSB. No. 19 UCSD led, 2-1, after one before the Anteaters put the clamps on not allowing a tally for the next 17 minutes en route to a 5-3 victory.
Allie Loomis was the star of the final match scoring twice for her first two collegiate goals.
Mary Brooks scored in all four matches for 10 total goals on the weekend. Her six-goal effort against LBSU was the seventh occurrence in program history, first since 2014 by way of McKenna Mitchell. The five second-period goals is an Anteater record.
Freshman Jenna Phreaner remained in net for all four matches. She turned away 26 shots total on the weekend including 11 in the finale against UCSD, a career high and her first double-digit save effort of her career. The 11 saves ties her with Annika Nelson for the most in a single match this season set in the opener vs. SJSU.
EVEN STRENGTH
UCI's defense was tested over the weekend especially by the UC Davis squad who put home 12 goals, a season-high allowed, including 11 in the first half alone, that alone was a season high.
Prior to the weekend, the squad had allowed as many goals as its put away itself in 43. The Triton Invite saw UCI score 28 and allow 27 including a season low as well in three vs. UCSD. Altogether, the Anteaters post a 7.00 goals-against-average.
In its 10 matches, the six-goal loss to UCD stands as the widest margin for any match. Three matches have finished with a five-goal difference while five others have been decided by three goals or less. There have not been any matches decided by a single goal.
The offense shows spurts, but few and far between. Brooks' six-goal game was more than 10 other Anteaters have had in the entire season to this point.
The squad's second leader scorer has emerged in Natalie Seidemann after burying five goals in La Jolla and at least one in each match. She has scored in seven matches overall, second only to Brooks' eight.
Kelli Baumgardner has stepped up with seven goals in 2016, a far cry from her one goal she scored last season. She is one of four players with multiple multi-goal games along with Brooks, Seidemann, and Destene Albers.
The defense in front of her stepped up for the freshman stealing 37 passes and jumping up for 11 field blocks. The team stole 13 against UCD, and added 11 vs. Michigan along with a tournament-high four field blocks.
UCLA-OK
Last season's NCAA runner-up UCLA will head to Anteater Aquatics Complex for a primetime match as the home opener for the Anteaters.
The Bruins and Anteaters have had some tight matches of late including an 8-5 UCLA win last year. The last trip to Irvine saw UCLA win by one on a goal with four seconds left in regulation.
UCLA has defeated UCI in each of the previous 19 matches, and since 2011 have won by margins of just 1, 3, 1, 4, and 2.
The 2015 Bruins finished at 26-3 including a one-goal loss in the NCAA Final. This year's Bruins are 7-1 and ranked second after falling in the UCSD Triton Invite title match, 8-6, to USC.
They too have squared off and taken home wins with UC Davis (5-1), Long Beach State (11-4), LMU (14-7), and Michigan (11-7) in addition to a five-goal win over common opponent Hawai'i to open the year.
UCLA is led by the usual suspects on the scoring end in juniors Mackenzie Barr, Ashley Zwirner, and Alexa Tielmann, seniors India Forster and Charlotte Pratt, and sophomore Devin Grab.
Newcomers to the scoresheet include juniors Aubrie Monahan, sophomore Grace Reego, and junior Kelsey O'Brien have put in their contributions as well.
With the departure of Sami Hill, senior keeper Alex Musselman has stepped in nicely along with the inclusion of fellow Newport Beach-native in freshman netminder Carlee Kapana.
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