
UCI Drops Tough Matches on Second Day of Triton Invitational
February 11, 2018 | Women's Water Polo
LA JOLLA, Calif. – On the final day of the Triton Invitational, the No. 7 UCI women's water polo team dropped a pair of games to nationally-ranked opponents.
The 'Eaters battled with second-ranked USC but ultimately fell, 7-5. In the afternoon game, UCI led No. 6 Arizona State at the half but could not hang on, falling 8-7.
The Anteaters finish the weekend 2-2 after winning both of their games Saturday and settled for fourth place at the tournament. UCI moves to 3-4 on the season.
GAME ONE – No. 2 USC 7, No. 7 UC Irvine 5
Freshman Tara Prentice and senior Allie Loomis each had a pair of goals, while Keana Eldrige added one. In goal, freshman Morgan Jones made 15 saves.
The Trojans got on the board first scoring on a 6-on-5 opportunity before Prentice answered to knot the game at one. USC added another goal, but Prentice scored her second less than a minute later to make it 2-2. The Trojans' Brianna Baboub added another to give USC a slight edge, 3-2 heading into the second frame.
UCI could not find the back of the net in the second frame as USC added one more, taking a 4-2 lead into the half.
The Trojans notched a pair of goals early in the third quarter to take 5-2 lead before Loomis scored on an extra-man opportunity. She added another with 2:46 left in the half, but USC lead 6-4 going into the final period.
Eldridge scored with one minute left in the game, but the 'Eaters ran out of time suffering a 7-5 defeat.
BY PERIOD
USC 3-1-2-1
UCI 2-0-2-1
SCORING
UCI: Loomis 2, Prentice 2, Eldridge 1.
USC: Paige Hauschild 2, Hayley McKelvey 2, Brianna Daboub 1, Kelsey McIntosh 1.
GAME TWO – No. 6 Arizona State 8, No. 7 UC Irvine 7
In the third place game, ASU used a strong second half, scoring in dramatic fashion at the last second to earn the one point victory.
Eldridge had a hat trick scoring a team-best three goals while Loomis, Cara Borkovec, Julie Swieca and Natalie Sediemann each added one.
Borkovec found the back of the net first then the Sun Devils quickly answered to knot the game at one. Both teams exchanged points back and forth as the game remained tied at two after the first quarter.
Eldridge put UCI ahead, 5-3, in the second frame after notching back-to-back goals. ASU answered with a goal in the final minute of the half to make it a one-point game.
With 5:33 showing in the third frame, Eldridge found the back of the net to give the 'Eaters a two point lead. The Sun Devils responded with two goals of their own to tie it at six.
The game remained knotted at seven for most of the fourth frame as it looked like it was headed for overtime until the Sun Devils' Alkistis Benekou managed to fire one past the UCI goalkeeper for the game-winner with two seconds remaining.
UCI hosts UCLA Friday (Feb. 16) at 7:00 p.m. in its home opener.
BY PERIOD
ASU 3-1-2-2
UCI 3-2-1-1
SCORING
UCI: Eldridge 3, Swieca 1, Seidemann 1, Borkovec 1, Loomis 1.
ASU: Bente Rogge 2, Alkistis Benekou 2, P.J. Allin 1, Julia Reyes 1, Kayla Casas 1, Maud Koopman 1.
The 'Eaters battled with second-ranked USC but ultimately fell, 7-5. In the afternoon game, UCI led No. 6 Arizona State at the half but could not hang on, falling 8-7.
The Anteaters finish the weekend 2-2 after winning both of their games Saturday and settled for fourth place at the tournament. UCI moves to 3-4 on the season.
GAME ONE – No. 2 USC 7, No. 7 UC Irvine 5
Freshman Tara Prentice and senior Allie Loomis each had a pair of goals, while Keana Eldrige added one. In goal, freshman Morgan Jones made 15 saves.
The Trojans got on the board first scoring on a 6-on-5 opportunity before Prentice answered to knot the game at one. USC added another goal, but Prentice scored her second less than a minute later to make it 2-2. The Trojans' Brianna Baboub added another to give USC a slight edge, 3-2 heading into the second frame.
UCI could not find the back of the net in the second frame as USC added one more, taking a 4-2 lead into the half.
The Trojans notched a pair of goals early in the third quarter to take 5-2 lead before Loomis scored on an extra-man opportunity. She added another with 2:46 left in the half, but USC lead 6-4 going into the final period.
Eldridge scored with one minute left in the game, but the 'Eaters ran out of time suffering a 7-5 defeat.
BY PERIOD
USC 3-1-2-1
UCI 2-0-2-1
SCORING
UCI: Loomis 2, Prentice 2, Eldridge 1.
USC: Paige Hauschild 2, Hayley McKelvey 2, Brianna Daboub 1, Kelsey McIntosh 1.
GAME TWO – No. 6 Arizona State 8, No. 7 UC Irvine 7
In the third place game, ASU used a strong second half, scoring in dramatic fashion at the last second to earn the one point victory.
Eldridge had a hat trick scoring a team-best three goals while Loomis, Cara Borkovec, Julie Swieca and Natalie Sediemann each added one.
Borkovec found the back of the net first then the Sun Devils quickly answered to knot the game at one. Both teams exchanged points back and forth as the game remained tied at two after the first quarter.
Eldridge put UCI ahead, 5-3, in the second frame after notching back-to-back goals. ASU answered with a goal in the final minute of the half to make it a one-point game.
With 5:33 showing in the third frame, Eldridge found the back of the net to give the 'Eaters a two point lead. The Sun Devils responded with two goals of their own to tie it at six.
The game remained knotted at seven for most of the fourth frame as it looked like it was headed for overtime until the Sun Devils' Alkistis Benekou managed to fire one past the UCI goalkeeper for the game-winner with two seconds remaining.
UCI hosts UCLA Friday (Feb. 16) at 7:00 p.m. in its home opener.
BY PERIOD
ASU 3-1-2-2
UCI 3-2-1-1
SCORING
UCI: Eldridge 3, Swieca 1, Seidemann 1, Borkovec 1, Loomis 1.
ASU: Bente Rogge 2, Alkistis Benekou 2, P.J. Allin 1, Julia Reyes 1, Kayla Casas 1, Maud Koopman 1.
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