THE SCHEDULE
No. 7 UC Irvine (9-11, 2-1) at
No. 10 UC Davis (16-8, 1-1)
Date: Saturday, April 7
Time: 12:00 p.m. (PST)
Location: Schaal Aquatics Center – Davis, Calif.
Live Stats
 
No. 7 UC Irvine (9-11, 2-1) at
No. 8 Pacific (7-10, 1-1)
Date: Sunday, April 8
Time: 12:00 p.m. (PST)
Location: Chris Kjeldsen Pool – Stockton, Calif.
Live Stats
 
After a busy home stretch, No. 7 UC Irvine will hit the road for two key matchups in Northern California. UCI will play a Big West contest at No. 10 UC Davis Saturday, April 7 at noon before facing No. 8 Pacific in a rematch Sunday, April 8 at 12 p.m. Both games will have live stats via the FOSH.
 
VERSUS THE OPPONENTS
UC Davis is ranked 10^th nationally and sits at 16-6 on the season and 1-1 in Big West play. Recently, the Aggies won an 8-7 decision against Long Beach State before falling to Hawai'i, 12-7. Paige Virgil and Greta Kohlmoos lead UCD with 49 and 37 goals, respectively. In goal, Caitlin Golding has 170 saves for a .456 goals against average. UCI holds a commanding 27-9 record against the Aggies in the all-time series. The Anteaters won both meetings against the Aggies last season by scores of 8-2 and 14-2.  

No. 8 Pacific is 10-7 overall and 3-0 in the Golden Coast Conference. Last time out, the Tigers dropped a 19-3 decision to USC. Pacific hosts Concordia (Irvine) Saturday before the 'Eaters come to town. Mariana Duarte leads the Tigers with 42 goals while Kyra Christmas has 30 goals and a team-best 20 assists. Goalkeeper Alexis Hollinrake boasts a .385 save percentage to go along with 105 saves. Pacific pulled out a 12-11 overtime victory over UCI at the Barbara Kalbus Invite earlier this season. The Anteaters hold a 21-5 advantage over the Tigers in the all-time series.  

IN THE RANKINGS
UCI is No. 7 in this week's Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national poll. The Anteaters have remained seventh in 10 of the 11 polls this season and spent one week ranked No. 8.

LAST TIME OUT
UCI finished the week 2-1, including win in the Big West

The Anteaters faced a tough test against No. 1 Stanford, coming up short, 8-3. Jenna Phreaner made nine stops in goal while Allie Loomis, Natalie Seidemann and Christina Reyes each tallied a goal.

Seidemann led the Anteaters past UC Santa Barbara tallying three goals in a 7-2 victory. Phreaner notched 10 saves, an assist and a steal. UCI shut out the Gauchos in the second and fourth quarters.

UCI came from behind to earn a 12-8 win over then No. 12 Hartwick to conclude the week. The Anteaters trailed, 4-3, at the half but outscored the Hawks 9-4 in the second half to seal the win. Tara Prentice had a team-high four goals while Phreaner notched a career-high 16 saves in the cage.  

SEIDEMANN IN THE STATS
Senior center Natalie Seidemann is second on the roster with 26 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 15 of 20 games.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Freshman Tara Prentice has wasted no time making an immediate impact on the UCI roster. She currently leads the Eaters' with 29 goals including three four-goal performances. Last week, she had a team-best four goals against No. 12 Hartwick.  Prentice has scored in 14 of 20 games.

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 (29 goals), Natalie Seidemann (26), Julie Swieca (21), Allie Loomis (18), Isabel Rack (16), Keana Eldridge (14) and Cara Borkovec (12).

GOLDEN IN GOAL
Jenna Phreaner has played 11 games in goal for the 'Eaters this season. She has a team-high 88 saves to go along with a .439 goals against average. Phreaner notched a career-high 16 saves against No. 12 Hartwick last week.

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.

LOOKING AHEAD
UCI hosts UC San Diego for a non-conference game Friday, April 13 at 7 p.m.