THE SCHEDULE
No. 12 UC San Diego (20-10, 4-0 WWPA) at
No. 9 UC Irvine (9-13, 2-2)
Date: Friday, April 13
Time: 7:00 p.m. (PST)
Location: Anteater Aquatics Complex – Irvine, Calif.
Live Stats
 
Ninth-ranked UC Irvine returns home from a two-game road stretch to host 12^th-ranked UC San Diego in a non-conference battle Friday, April 13 at 7 p.m. After dropping their last two game, UCI is looking to get back to its winning ways this week. The game will have live stats available via the FOSH.
 
VERSUS THE TRITONS
Future Big West member UCSD makes the short trip to Irvine behind a 20-10 overall record. The Tritons are 4-0 in the Western Water Polo Association and have recent wins over Fresno Pacific and Fresno State. Kayla Fedler leads UCSD with 42 goals while Reilly Gallagher has 120 saves for a .526 save percentage.

UCI holds a slight 15-13 record over the Tritons in the all-time series. Last season the Anteaters earned a 6-3 win over UCSD.

IN THE RANKINGS
After dropping two games last week, UCI slipped to No. 9 in this week's Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national poll. The Anteaters have remained seventh in 10 of the 12 polls this season and spent one week ranked No. 8.

LAST TIME OUT
UCI dropped two games in a trip to Northern California.

Then 10^th-ranked UC Davis dished out a 9-8 upset win over then seventh-ranked UC Irvine in a Big West showdown. Tara Prentice and Corinna Toledo each tallied two goals while Jenna Phreaner made 12 stops in the cage. UCD sealed the game-winner with 2:28 to play in the fourth quarter.

UCI suffered its second-straight loss the next day, dropping a 12-9 decision to No. 8 Pacific. Keana Eldridge finished with a hat trick, scoring a team-best three goals while Phreaner tallied 11 saves in goal. The Tigers outscored the 'Eaters 5-3 in the second half to seal the win.

SEIDEMANN IN THE STATS
Senior center Natalie Seidemann is second on the roster with 28 goals this year. She notched a season-high four goals against Loyola Marymount (2/23) and has led UCI in scoring in five games so far. Seidemann has scored at least one goal in 17 of 22 games.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Freshman Tara Prentice has wasted no time making an immediate impact on the UCI roster. She currently leads the Eaters' with 32 goals including three four-goal performances. Last week, she tied for a team-best two goals against No. 10 UC Davis.  Prentice has scored in 16 of 22 games and also leads the roster in steals with 23.

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

BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
Seven players have tallied double-digit goals this season including Tara Prentice (32 goals), Natalie Seidemann (28), Julie Swieca (21), Allie Loomis (19), Isabel Rack (17), Keana Eldridge (18) and Cara Borkovec (15).

GOLDEN IN GOAL
Jenna Phreaner has played 13 games in goal for the 'Eaters this season. She has a team-high 111 saves to go along with a .447 goals against average. Phreaner notched a career-high 16 saves against No. 12 Hartwick. Last week, she had two double-digit save performances against UC Davis (12) and Pacific (11).

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.

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.

LOOKING AHEAD
UCI concludes the regular-season with a conference match against Long Beach State Thursday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at Anteater Aquatics Complex.