Tournament Central | Tournament Bracket

THIS WEEK 
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
Uytengsu Aquatics Complex— Los Angeles 

UC Irvine vs Pomona-Pitzer · Tuesday, May 8 · 4:30 p.m. PT · Opening Round
Video   Live Stats

Stanford vs. UC Irvine/Pomona-Pitzer · Friday, May 11 · 3:30 p.m. · Quarterfinal 

Saturday, May 12 · 5:00 p.m. · Semifinal
Sunday, May 13 · 3:00 p.m. · Championship

COMING UP
Eighth-ranked UC Irvine will compete in the opening round of the NCAA Championships battling Pomona-Pitzer Tuesday (May 8) at 4:30 p.m. PT at the Uytengsu Aquatics Complex on the campus of USC in Los Angeles.

It is a single elimination tournament this year so the Anteaters are only guaranteed to play another game if they win. If UCI advances, they will enter the tournament field to play second-seeded Stanford Friday, May 11 in the quarterfinals at 3:30 p.m. PT

If UCI advances past the quarterfinals they will play in the semifinals Saturday, May 12 at 5:00 p.m. PT

The championship will take place on Sunday, May 13 at 3:00 p.m. PT

WAYS TO FOLLOW
Fans can purchase tickets here. The two opening round games will be streamed live here. All games in the main tournament field will be streamed live at ncaa.com. All games will feature live stats through the FOSH.

AT THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
This is UCI's sixth NCAA Appearance (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017).

The Anteaters highest finished came at the 2012 Championships where they finished fourth. UCI has been seeded as high as fourth two times (2012, 2017).

UCI is 6-7 in previous NCAA competition all-time

At last year's NCAA Championships, UCI fell to Cal, 9-7, in the first round.

UCI has had six players named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team. Mary Brooks was named to the All-Tournament Second Team in 2015.

LAST TIME USC HOSTED THE CHAMPIONSHIP
USC last hosted the NCAA Championships in 2014. UCI was the sixth seed, advancing to the fifth-place game where it fell to fourth-seeded Arizona State, 6-5.

ABOUT THE SAGEHENS
Pomona-Pitzer earned an automatic bid to the Championships after winning its second-straight Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Championship. The Sagehens defeated Cal Lutheran, 8-2, for the title.

Pomona-Pitzer enters the Championships with a 22-10 overall record.

The Anteaters and Sagehens have not met this season, but the teams last tangled in 2016 with UCI winning 14-2.

UCI is 12-0 against Pomona-Pitzer in the all-time series.

ABOUT THE CARDINAL
If UCI wins Tuesday, it will face defending National Champion, Stanford, in the quarterfinals. The Cardinal are currently ranked second in the nation and earned an at-large selection to the Championship and the No. 2 seed.

The Cardinal are 18-3 on the season and finished as the runner-up at the MPSF Tournament after falling in overtime to USC, 13-12, in the MPSF Championship game.

Stanford beat UCI twice this season. Once at the Cal Invite, 12-2, and once at Anteater Aquatics Complex, 8-3.

The Cardinal are 21-0 against the Anteaters in the all-time series.

VERSUS THE REST OF THE FIELD
UCI dropped two games to No. 1 USC this year by scores of 7-5 and 13-7. The Trojans are 26-0 against the Anteaters in the all-time series.

UCI dropped to No. 3 Cal twice by scores of 10-8 and 10-6. The Golden Bears hold a 20-1 advantage over the 'Eaters all-time.

UCLA edged the Anteaters 8-7 in overtime this season and hold a 22-0 advantage in the all-time series.

Pacific defeated UCI on two occasions this season. UCI holds a 21-6 advantage over the Tigers in the all-time series.

UCI and Michigan did not meet this season but the Anteaters have a 6-4 advantage in the all-time series.

The Anteaters defeated UC San Diego 10-5 earlier this year, holding a 16-13 advantage in the all-time series.

UCI is 1-0 against Wagner all-time.

IN THE RANKINGS
UCI came in at No. 8 in this week's Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national poll. The Anteaters were seventh in 10 of the 15 polls this season and spent two weeks ranked No. 9.

BACK-TO-BACK BIG WEST CHAMPIONS
UCI captured its seventh Big West Tournament title and second-straight (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018).

The Anteaters entered the Big West Championships as the third-seed after finishing the Big West regular-season, 3-2. UCI defeated CSUN in the first round, 14-1, and UC Davis in the semifinals, 10-7. The 'Eaters played top-seeded Hawaii in the championship game and took down the Rainbow Wahine, 8-7, in sudden death overtime.

Goalkeeper Jenna Phreaner was named the Championship's Most Valuable Player after compiling 27 saves and two steals over three games. She had a 14-save performance against UC Davis in the semis.

ANTEATERS WIN MAJOR CONFERENCE AWARDS
UCI won two major Big West postseason awards including Freshman of the Year (Isabel Rack) and Coach of the Year (Dan Kaltt). The Anteaters also claimed six All-Big West selections.

Rack earned top freshman honors for UCI for the first time since 2015 when Mary Brooks claimed the award.

Klatt was named Coach of the Year for a Big West record seventh time in his career.

Jenna Phreaner and Tara Prentice were first-team selections while Natalie Seidemann was named on the second team.

Rack, Megan Falcon and Kayleigh Schultz were placed on the All-Freshman team.

PEAK PERFORMANCE
The Anteaters seem to be peaking at the right time as they have won five-straight games including the Big West Championship. UCI went 5-2 in the month of April.

GOLDEN IN GOAL
Jenna Phreaner has played 20 games in goal for the 'Eaters this season. She has a team-high 178 saves to go along with a .610 save percentage. Phreaner notched a career-high 16 saves against No. 12 Hartwick. She has had double digit saves in seven games this seasons. Phreaner was also named the Big West Championships MVP and an All-Big West First Team selection.

IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Jenna Phreaner is currently fourth all-time at UCI in career saves with 379 and ninth in season saves (178).

SEIDEMANN IN THE STATS
Senior center Natalie Seidemann is second on the roster with 36 goals this year. She notched a career-high five goals against UC San Diego and has led UCI in scoring in six games so far. Seidemann has scored at least one goal in 21 of 27 games. The center was an All-Big West Second Team selection.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Freshman Tara Prentice has wasted no time making an immediate impact on the UCI roster. She leads the Anteaters with 38 goals including three four-goal performances. Prentice has scored in 20 of 27 games and also leads the roster in steals (37) and assists (23). Prentice was named to the All-Big West First Team.

BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
Eight players have tallied double-digit goals this season including Tara Prentice (38), Natalie Seidemann (36), Julie Swieca (28), Allie Loomis (25), Isabel Rack (24), Keana Eldridge (20), Cara Borkovec (21) and Megan Falcon (12).

BIG WEST PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
The Anteaters have received two Big West Player of the Week nods this season. Tara Prentice was the first Anteater to earn the honor for the week of Jan. 21. Isabel Rack grabbed the final weekly award of the season for the week of April 25.