STANFORD, Calif. --- No. 10 UC Irvine got back on the winning side early Sunday morning at Belardi Pool topping No. 12 Pacific, 11-6, in the final match of pool play at the Stanford Invitational.
The teams jockeyed in the first period led by Pacific (3-8) with a goal from Rachel Krieger in the first minute. Destene Albers and Emily Carlson would respond with goals to give UCI the lead, 2-1, by the 3:04 mark.
The Tigers closed to tie the match at 2-2 at the end of the period thanks to a strike with 24 seconds remaining.
UC Irvine (3-2) began to separate themselves with goals from Gabby Pierandozzi and Corinna Toledo in the second frame while holding the Tigers scoreless to take a 4-2 lead into the half.
Carlson stretched the lead to three goals with a snipe early in the third period. Pacific rallied back with two quick scores from Viktoria Szmodics less than a minute apart from each other to make it a one-goal match with 4:39 left in the quarter.
UCI responded with a far post lob from Keana Eldridge and a dart from Mary Brooks to stretch the lead back to three, 7-4, with one quarter left.
The 'Eaters continued its scoring with Mackenzie Milham and Hanna Lancaster forcing a pair home to make it 10-4. UOP's Brinnley Barthels brought another back with 4:34 remaining before Carlson returned to spark another goal, stealing a pass, feeding Brooks who found Albers on the doorstep to sidestep the defense and finish for the final UCI goal and the eventual 11-6 win.
Carlson finished with two goals and began the sequence to another, and said that third goal probably felt the best.
"It feels better to set up my teammates for goals because you get the satisfaction of making a good pass and hitting them right in the hand and them scoring the goal."
The wealth was spread around as nine Anteaters rained in goals with Carlson and Albers as the only 'Eaters to put home multiple goals.
Players with assists were Brooks, Eldridge, and Kelli Baumgardner who each had a hand in two. Brooks added two steals and field blocks.
Jenna Phreaner blocked nine of her own in net and swiping one steal to pick up her second win of the weekend.
The win matches UCI up with No. 6 Michigan at 1:30 p.m. for third place in the tournament.
"We definitely left some things in the pool last time we saw Michigan so I think we have a lot to prove against them. I think everyone's really excited and looking forward to trying to win by more this time."
UCI and Michigan battled at Indiana last March with UCI skating by, 11-9, for the victory. This coming off a 9-4 win at home to kick off the UC Irvine Invitational.
(10) UC IRVINE 11, (12) PACIFIC 6
Feb. 7, 2016 – Stanford Invitational
Belardi Pool – Stanford, Calif.
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UCI
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11
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PAC
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UCI goals: Destene Albers (2), Emily Carlson (2), Mary Brooks, Mackenzie Milham, Kelli Baumgardner, Corinna Toledo, Hanna Lancaster, Keana Eldridge, Gabby Pierandozzi
PAC goals: Viktoria Szmodics (2), Rachel Krieger, Megan Torre, Brinnley Barthels, Karolina Hlavata
Saves: Jenna Phreaner (UCI) – 9; Mia Harris (PAC) – 7
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