IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine is coming off a 2019 season that saw it win its eighth Big West regular-season title. In 2020, the Anteaters face a tough schedule with an experienced returning core and a wealth on new talent.
 
The Schedule
The 2020 season kicks off with the UCSB Invitational on Saturday, January 18^th against Cal (10:30 a.m.) and Michigan (2 p.m.). The Anteaters also participate in the Cal Cup from Jan 25-26 and the Triton Invitational from Feb 8-9. UCI will face top-10 teams from year ago in Cal and Stanford at the Cal Cup and turn around to play four games in two days at the Triton Invite to kick off February.
 
"We've put together a really challenging schedule again which is great," said head coach Dan Klatt. "We have a fair amount of traveling including two almost week-long trips to Hawaii. We are trying to simulate our conference championship schedule early on in the year. I think those weeks on the road will be extremely important. Our first two weeks of the schedule we play a handful of top-10 teams, so it will be challenging from the start.
 
The 'Eaters get their first home action at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational. The three-day event spanning Feb 21-23 sees many of the nation's top teams in women's water polo competing in Irvine.
 
UCI will host perennial powerhouse UCLA (March 13) before taking a trip over spring break to play at Hawaii on March 27.
 
The Anteaters face a new challenge with the addition of UC San Diego to the Big West Conference. UCI will play its first-ever conference game against the Tritons on April 11 in La Jolla.
 
"Adding UC San Diego into the Big West is very exciting. We've always played close games with them so it adds an additional challenge to the conference slate."
 
Same Face, New Place
The Big West has a new member as UC San Diego has its inaugural season in 2020. The 'Eaters have been dining on victory against the Tritons. UCI has won the last 16 matches against UC San Diego. The last Anteater loss came in 2005.
 
New Tournament Format
The 2020 Big West Conference Tournament will be held April 23-25 in Honolulu, Hawaii. With the addition of UCSD, the tournament field will now feature seven teams with only the No. 1 seed receiving a first round bye. Seeds 2-7 will play in a first round game. The tournament will also mimic the NCAA Tournament format and be played in elimination style.
 
Last Year
UCI finished 8^th in the national rankings and ranked as high as No. 6 last season. The Anteaters ended with a 19-9 record overall, going 4-1 in conference. UCI won its eighth regular season crown but came up short against Hawaii in the Big West Tournament Championship Game.
 
Senior Tara Prentice and graduate Mary Brooks were honored on the ACWPC All-America Third Team.
 
The Anteaters had two All-Big West first-team honorees in Mary Brooks and Tara Prentice. Morgan Jones was placed on the second team while Piper Smith was named to both the All-Big West second-team and freshman team.
 
The Anteaters had wins against top-10 ranked UC Santa Barbara three times and ninth ranked UC Davis. The biggest win of the season came against Hawai'i who was ranked fourth at the time. The 'Eaters beat the Rainbow Wahine 7-6 at home, handing Hawai'i its only loss in conference play and clinched the regular-season title for UCI.
 
Roster Sneak Peak
"We only lost three seniors last year so our roster is fairly consistent with what it was in 2019. With the improvement of our returning players plus the addition of the newcomers, I am really excited for the roster we have."
 
Senior two time All-American Tara Prentice returns as UCI's leading scorer after posting 70 goals, the second most in a season in program history. She also finished with 24 steals and 11 assists. Sophomore All-Conference selection Piper Smith will look to have a breakout season after finishing third on the team a year ago with 40 goals and 15 steals.
 
Second team All-Conference goalkeeper Morgan Jones returns as UCI's starting goalie. In 2019 she started 26 games tallying 172 saves. She finished with a 6.15 goals against average.
 
The 'Eaters will look to fill the hole left by four time All-American Mary Brooks who ended her career as the 7^th leading scorer all-time in the Big West.

UCI will get senior leadership from Prentice, Delayne Lynton, Jolene Viramontes and Marissa Echelberger.
 
Fresh Face, Our Place
UCI brings in eight freshmen and one transfer for the 2020 season. Camila Rosas comes to Irvine from Long Beach City College where she was named an All-South Coast Conference first-team selection last season.
 
The eight true freshman include Portia Schiavone, Kili Skibby, Maeve Murphy, Elena Flynn, Jensine Bugelli, Jessica Lynch, Airian Grisham, Mica Schiavone and Sydney Milham
 
"We have our largest team in program history with 28 players, nine incoming players. I felt like our new players assimilated really well and that is thanks to the leadership on our team. We were able to host a few tournaments in the fall to get some games under our belt and give the new players some experience."
 
Anteater Staff Breakdown
Head coach Dan Klatt returns for his 16^th season at the helm and stands four wins away from 300, with 296 career wins at UCI.
 
New to the staff this season are 2019 UCI graduates Mary Brooks and Jenna Phreaner who will serve as assistant coaches.
 
Associate head coach Andrew Rowe returns for his 12^th season with the 'Eaters.
 
"I have so much confidence in this team and the elite level staff we have on deck this season," remarked Klatt.
 
The 2020 season gets underway Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Gaucho Invite. UCI will play its first game against Cal at 10:30 a.m.