THE SCHEDULE
No. 8 UC Irvine (4-8, 0-0) at
No. 5 Hawai'i (11-2, 0-0)
Date: Saturday, March 3
Time: 8:00 p.m. (PST)
Location: Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex – Honolulu, O'ahu
Live Stats
  
No. 8 UC Irvine will open up Big West play Saturday March 3 at No. 5 Hawai'i at 8:00 p.m. PT in Honolulu. Live stats will be available via the FOSH.
 
VERSUS THE RAINBOW WARRIORS
Hawai'i holds a 16-8 lead over UCI in the all-time series. The two teams met three times last season with the Anteaters taking two-of three games. Hawai'i is fresh off a 3-1 record at the Barbara Kalbus Invite, finishing in fifth place after defeating No. 6 Arizona State. The Rainbow Wahine have won 11 of their last 12 matches with their only losses this season coming against No. 4 UCLA (9-8) and No. 4 Cal (9-4).
 
IN THE RANKINGS
UCI dropped to No. 8 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) weekly rankings after finishing 1-3 at the Barbara Kalbus Invite. The Anteaters stood at No. 7 through the first six weeks of the season.

AT THE BABARA KALBUS INVITE
The 'Eaters finished 1-3 at the BKI. UCI got off to a good start defeating No. 11 LMU, 12-5, but suffered three-straight losses to settle for eighth place at the tournament.

The Anteaters fell to No. 2 Cal 10-6 and No. 6 Arizona State 9-6 on the second day of competition. UCI battled No. 8 Pacific in the seventh-place game but ultimately fell, 12-11, in double overtime.

Eleven different players scored over the weekend while Natalie Seidemann and Julie Swieca led the 'Eaters with seven goals each.

SEIDEMANN IN THE STATS
After finishing tied with a team-best seven goals at the Barbara Kalbus Invite, Senior Natalie Seidemann now leads the Anteaters with 17 goals this season. She notched a season-high four goals against Loyola Marymount (2/23) and has led UCI in scoring in three games so far.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Freshman Tara Prentice has wasted no time making an immediate impact on the UCI roster. She currently second on the roster with 16 goals including a career-high four against Cal (1/28). At the BKI, she dished out a team-high four assists and had three goals.

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

BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
Five players have tallied double-digit goals this season including Natalie Seidemann (17 goals), Tara Prentice (16), Julie Swieca (15), Allie Loomis (15) and Isabel Rack (10).

BIG WEST TOURNEY RETURNS TO IRVINE
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 goalkeeper 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 travel to No. 2 USC for a non-conference game Wednesday, March 7 at 5:00 p.m.