THE SCHEDULE
No. 4 UCLA (12-1) at
No. 7 UC Irvine (3-4)
Date: Friday, Feb. 16
Time: 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: Irvine, Calif. · Anteater Aquatics Complex
Live Stats
Game Day Roster
 
No. 7 UC Irvine takes a break from tournament action to host No. 4 UCLA at Anteater Aquatics Complex Friday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m. Fans can attend for free and live stats will be available via The FOSH.
 
VERSUS THE BRUINS
No. 4 UCLA is 12-1 on the season. The Bruins lone loss came at last weekend's Triton Invitational against the second-ranked Trojans. USC took down UCLA, 6-4.

UCI will look for its first win over UCLA, coming up short in the previous 22 meetings. Last season, the 'Eaters and Bruins met twice with UCLA winning by a score of 16-1 on both occasions.

IN THE RANKINGS
UCI has remained seventh in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) weekly rankings through the first five weeks of the season.

AT THE TRITON INVITE
The Anteaters finished 2-2 at the Triton Invite in La Jolla, finishing in fourth place overall.

UCI beat Santa Clara, 16-3, and No. 23 CSUN, 19-6. The 'Eaters battled with No. 2 USC and No. 6 Arizona State but came up short by scores of 7-5 and 8-7, respectively.

Senior Allie Loomis led UCI with seven goals notching team-highs against Santa Clara (3) and No. 2 USC (2). 17 different Anteaters scored at least once over the four games. 
 
PRENTICE IN THE LEAD
Freshman Tara Prentice has wasted no time making an immediate impact on the UCI roster. She currently leads the team with 12 goals, grabbing a career-high four against Cal (1/28). At the Triton Invite, she notched four goals over two days.

She earned the 'Eaters first Big West Player of the Week nod for the week of January 31.

SENIOR STRENGTH
The UCI senior class shined last week at the Triton Invite. Allie Loomis led the way with seven goals, scoring in each of UCI's four games. She had a team-high three goals against Santa Clara and added a team-best two against USC. The attacker is tied for second on the roster with nine goals so far this season.

Senior Natalie Seidemann matches Loomis' nine goals this season after tallying a team-high three against No. 23 CSUN. Against Arizona State, senior Keana Eldridge finished with a hat trick, notching a team-best three goals.

THINK PINK
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, Friday's game against UCLA will be UC Irvine's "Think Pink" game. The Anteaters will be sporting pink gear and all fans are encouraged to join in and wear pink to the game. Fans attending will receive a Think Pink bracelet courtesy of UCI Health (while supplies last).

COIN DRIVE
Throughout the month of February, UC Irvine's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is participating in the 11th annual Big West Coin Drive. Student-athletes will be collecting donations at 10 events on campus, including the first day of the women's water polo Barbara Kalbus Invitational . This year, the Anteaters are raising money for UCI Active Minds, which helps destigmatize mental health awareness and promotes emotional wellness on campus and in the community.

HOME COOKIN'
The Anteaters' host nine home games as well as the two-day Barbara Kalbus Invitational and the Big West Tournament.

 The home opener is set for Friday, Feb. 16 against UCLA at 7:00 p.m. UCI then hosts the annual Barbara Kalbus Invitational Feb. 23-24.

The Anteaters play six-straight home games spanning from March 10-31. The stretch includes two conference games against CSUN (Mar. 10) and UCSB (Mar. 31).

UCI will host the 2018 Big West Championship April 27-29. The three-day tournament returns to Irvine for the first time since 2013.

2018 OUTLOOK: NEW FACES, SAME GOALS
Coming off a 2017 season that proved to be one of the most successful in program history, 14^th-year head coach Dan Klatt has similar hopes in mind for his 2018 squad that boasts seven seniors and 12 newcomers.

"My goals and expectations rarely change," said Klatt. "We focus on maximizing the potential of the group we have. This season we have a very new group so realizing what that potential actually looks like and then utilizing it will be a main focus throughout the year".

Klatt brings back 13 players, including six seniors that he believes will continue to provide great leadership in and out of the pool. He expects contributions from all of his returners.

The seniors include goalie Riley Shaw, attacker Allie Loomis, attacker Corinna Toledo, attacker Julie Swieca, attacker Keana Eldridge and center Natalie Seidemann. The 'Eaters returning leading scorer and All-American Mary Brooks will be redshirting.

"It's a group that is very hardworking that has established a great culture in the weight room, team room, in the pool and academically," said Klatt.

Along with a seasoned veteran presence, the 'Eaters have a big group of newcomers that will add depth across the roster.

"You will see scoring and contributions all over the board from us this year. We have talent in our veterans and in our younger group, which will lead to well-rounded play throughout the entire roster," added Klatt.

BIG SHOES TO FILL
The Anteaters graduated six senior field players that accounted for 152 of UCI's 303 goals scored in 2017 as well as second team All-Big West goal keeper Annika Nelson. The 'Eaters will also be without leading scorer, Mary Brooks, who will redshirt this year. Brooks was the 2017 Big West Player of the Year led UCI in scoring with 66 goals.

LOOKING AHEAD
UC Irvine will host the Barbara Kalbus Invitational Feb. 23-25. The tournament will be played between the UCI Aquatics Center and Corona del Mar High School pool.

The tournament is named in honor of water polo icon Barbara Kalbus, who was instrumental in USA Water Polo as well as the NCAA and club levels. Kalbus ran the UCI desk for over 30 years.