UC Irvine
Pacific
Women's Water Polo Falls to No. 5 Cal for Day One Split
February 06, 2016 | Women's Water Polo
STANFORD, Calif. --- No. 10 UC Irvine struggled to find their scoring legs falling 7-2 Saturday evening to No. 5 Cal at Avery Aquatics Center.
The match began in a stalemate with no goals for the first seven minutes. Cal (9-1) broke the silence with 43 seconds left in the first and rode the 1-0 lead to the end of the quarter.
UC Irvine (2-2) evened the score at 6:16 of the second quarter as Corinna Toledo slid home a power play goal after she earned the exclusion to start it.
"My first goal happened because of everyone else," complimented Toledo. "We attacked hard and I got open and took the opportunity."
Cal would distance themselves through the remainder of the period as Carla Carrega knocked home three goals including a penalty strike at the 3:20 mark to power the Bears to a 4-1 halftime lead.
Carrega added a fourth midway through the third period, but the Anteaters got it back with 1:37 left in the period. As time wound down on the shot clock, Raegen Castillo dropped a pass across the pool to Kelli Baumgardner who crossed a lob back off the far post and in as the 'Eaters held the three-goal stance as the third quarter ended.
Cal's defense remained stiff into the final period shutting UCI down once again. Carrega completed the win with her fifth goal of the match with 3:26 left to put the Anteaters down for good, 7-2.
Jenna Phreaner faced a minimal attack from the Bears stopping just three shots and getting a steal on top of it. The defense in front of her had three field blocks as well including a pair from Gabby Pierandozzi.
Toledo had a prime chance for a second late in the match wide open after sliding into the lane, but smacked the post.
"My mind said cross-cage, but my body went near side." She did add a steal and earned exclusion to her night.
"It was a mental thing tonight. We were creating a lot of opportunities, but we need to put more shots away and on goal."
The Anteaters did fire 16 shots on the evening, but seven went wide or high of the cage. Cal's Madeline Trabucco knocked down seven shots of her own in net.
Elsewhere, Natalie Seidemann drew three exclusions on the evening. Castillo coupled her assist by drawing an ejection and posting a field block as well. Mary Brooks assisted on Toledo's goal, and was one of seven 'Eaters to pilfer a steal.
The loss drops UCI to 2-2 on the year and 1-1 after one day in Stanford. It will begin Sunday with a 9:10 a.m. match against No. 12 Pacific, and follow that up with an early afternoon match against a school from the other side of the bracket either Michigan, Stanford, San Jose State, or Loyola Marymount.
(5) CAL 7, (10) UC IRVINE 2
Feb. 6, 2016 – Stanford Invitational
Stanford, Calif. – Avery Aquatics Center
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
F |
|
UCI |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Cal |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
UCI goals: Corinna Toledo, Kelli Baumgardner
Cal goals: Carla Carrega (5), Genevieve Weed, Kindred Paul
Saves: Jenna Phreaner (UCI) – 3; Madeline Trabucco (Cal) – 7
