IRVINE, Calif. – Despite a 3-0 lead after the first quarter, No. 8 UC Irvine dropped a narrow 6-5 decision to No. 10 UC Santa Barbara in Big West action, Saturday at the Campus Pool.
 
UCI falls to 12-7 on the season and 0-1 in Big West play. UCSB improves to 16-5 overall and 1-0 in the conference.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Mary Brooks, Sarah Nichols, Piper Smith, Isabel Rack and Tara Prentice each had a goal for the Anteaters. Brooks also grabbed three steals and dished out an assist
> Morgan Jones made seven saves in goal
> UCI struggled in extra-man situations finishing 0-11. The Gauchos fared slightly better finishing 2-9
> The 'Eaters also went 0-1 in five-meter penalty shot attempts
> Overall UCI out-shot UCSB 31-20
> Kenzi Snyder made 13 saves in goal while Sarah Snyder and Kate Pipkin had two goals apiece
 
QUARTER ONE
> The 'Eaters jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held the Gauchos scoreless in the frame
> Rack found the back of the net at 5:27 before Nichols added a goal at 4:47
> Smith scored UCI's third goal with 3:40 remaining
 
QUARTER TWO
> Pipkin scored for the Gauchos at 3:25 to make it, 3-1
> Brooks tallied a UCI goal just 11 seconds later (3:14) to give the 'Eaters a 4-1 lead
> UCSB would add two more goals to close the gap, 4-3, at halftime
 
QUARTER THREE
> The Gaucho defense shut-out the 'Eaters in the frame
> UCSB scored twice to take 5-4 lead
 
QUARTER FOUR
> Snyder scored early in the final frame (6:28) to give UCSB a two-goal, 6-4 lead
> Brooks found Prentice who fired in a goal with 3:53 to play to make it a one-goal game, 6-5
> Neither team would score in the final three minutes as the Gauchos earned the close victory
 
NOTES
> This marks the third time the two teams have played each other this season and the first-time UCI has lost to UCSB in 2019
> The Anteaters finished 0-2 on the week
> Prentice increases her team leading goal total to 44
 
UP NEXT
> UCI plays a non-conference contest at San Diego State Friday, March 15 at 4 p.m.