THE SCHEDULE
No. 7 UC Irvine (4-9, 0-1) at
No. 3 USC (10-1, 0-0)
Date: Wednesday, March 7
Time: 5:00 p.m. (PST)
Location: Uytengsu Aquatics Center – Los Angeles, Calif.
Live Stats

No. 19 CSUN (11-9, 0-0) at
No. 7 UC Irvine (4-9, 0-1)
Date: Saturday, March 10
Time: 12:00 p.m. (PST)
Location: Anteater Aquatics Complex – Irvine, Calif.
Live Stats
 
No. 7 UC Irvine heads to second-ranked USC for a non-conference tilt Wednesday, March 7 at 5 p.m. The Anteaters return home to host Big West opponent No. 19 CSUN Saturday, March 10 at 12 p.m. Both games will have live stats available via the FOSH.
 
The game against CSUN will begin a six game home stand for the 'Eaters that will stretch through the end of March.
 
VERSUS THE OPPONENTS
USC is currently ranked second in the nation and boasts a 10-1 overall record. The Trojans only loss came against No. 1 Stanford, 9-3, in the Championship Game of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational. USC is led by Paige Hauschild with 27 goals while goalie Victoria Chamorro averages 9.87 saves per game.  

The Trojans hold a 28-3 lead over UCI in the all-time series, winning the past 28-straight meetings. The 'Eaters and Trojans met earlier this season at the Triton Invite where USC earned a 7-5 win.

CSUN comes to Irvine with an 11-9 overall record. This will be the Matadors first Big West game of the season. Most recently, CSUN went 3-1 at the Wolverine Invitational picking up wins against Azusa Pacific, Iona and Bucknell. Katelyn Fairchild leads the Matadors with 22 goals. In goal, Emma Pfister has played in eight matches with a 7.23 goals against average.

UCI is 26-3 all-time against CSUN. The 'Eaters grabbed a 19-6 win against the Matadors at the Triton Invite earlier this season.  


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.

LAST TIME OUT
UCI dropped its Big West season-opener at fifth-ranked Hawai'i by a score of 12-6 last Saturday in Honolulu.

A slow start doomed the 'Eaters as they were shut out in the first frame and trailed 7-1 at the half. UCI notched five goals in the second half but it wasn't enough as the Rainbow Wahine maintained a six-point lead throughout the contest.

Freshman Tara Prentice led the 'Eaters with two goals. Jenna Phreaner had seven saves in the first three quarters while Riley Shaw played in goal for the final quarter.

SEIDEMANN IN THE STATS
After finishing tied with a team-best seven goals at the Barbara Kalbus Invite, Senior Natalie Seidemann is second on the roster 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 leads the Eaters' with 16 goals including a career-high four against Cal (1/28). She tallied a team-best two goals against Hawai'i'i and has led the 'Eaters in scoring in three games so far.

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

BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
Five played have tallied double-digit goals this season including Natalie Seidemann (17 goals), Tara Prentice (18), Julie Swieca (16), 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
UCI will continue its six-game home stand hosting Harvard Thursday, March 15 at 7 p.m.