‘Eaters Split With UC Davis, Ayala Nets Game-Winner in Game Two

Saturday, March 6

Irvine, Calif.

2:00 PM

UC Irvine

UC San Diego

Photo by: Robert Huskey

‘Eaters Split With UC Davis, Ayala Nets Game-Winner in Game Two

March 12, 2021 | Women's Water Polo

By: Sarah Zetlmeisl

DAVIS, Calif. – UC Irvine battled with UC Davis in a pair of games Friday at Schaal Aquatics Center. UCI dropped the first game, 11-9, which counted towards the Big West standings before earning a comeback win, 12-11, in the nightcap.

With the split, UCI moves to 7-3 on the season and 0-1 in the Big West while UCD sits at 5-3 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

GAME ONE – UCI 9, UC Davis 11
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Danielle Ayala and Megan Falcon each finished with two goals
> Sarah Nichols, Kili Skibby, Piper Smith, Jessica Lynch and Ariana Bockstahler recorded one goal apiece
> Morgan Jones played all four quarters in goal and finished with six saves
> UCI was 2-of-5 on powerplays and 1-of-1 on penalty shots
> The Aggies were led by Alyssa Lengtat with three goals

QUARTER ONE
> The Aggies got on the board first (7:02) before UCI quickly answered with a goal from Smith at 5:47
> UCD scored again followed by a powerplay goal from Nichols (1:21) to make it a tie game, 2-2, after the first quarter

QUARTER TWO
> The teams exchanged back-and-forth goals to open the frame with UCI's Skibby scoring at 2:55 to knot the game, 3-3
> UCD scored at 2:24 before Bockstahler fired in a goal for the 'Eaters at 2:02 to make it 4-4 at the half

QUARTER THREE
> The Aggies scored twice to go up, 6-4, with 3:47 to play
> Falcon fired in a goal at 3:11 put UCI trailed, 9-5, heading into the final quarter

QUARTER FOUR
> Falcon and Ayala scored two-straight for the 'Eaters to bring them within two, 9-7 (5:15)
> UCD would strike again at 4:27 to make it 10-7
> UCI responded with goals from Lynch and Ayala to bring the Anteaters within one, 10-9, with 1:49 remaining
> The Aggies put the game away with a goal at 1:32 to make it 11-9 at the final buzzer

GAME TWO – UCI 11, UC Davis 10
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Dani Ayala tied a career-high four goals, including the game-winner in the fourth quarter with 11 seconds remaining. She also had an assist and a steal
> Sarah Nichols finished with two goals while Kili Skibby, Calysa Toledo, Toni Shackelford, Piper Smith and Mica Schiavone each added one
> Morgan Jones finished with nine saves in goal
> UCI was 5-of-9 on powerplays and 1-1 on made penalty shots while UCD went 2-of-5 in extraman opportunities and 0-1 in penalty shot attempts
> Emily Aikema, Sam Vitt and Grace Pelkey each had two goals for the Aggies

QUARTER ONE
> UC Davis jumped out to a 4-0 lead before Schiavone got the 'Eaters on the board on a powerplay at 3:43

QUARTER TWO
> Back-to-back goals from Nichols got the 'Eaters within one, 5-4, with 3:04 remaining
> Ayala scored on a powerplay with 1:09 to play
> Toledo fired in a made penalty shot with 10 seconds to play to give UCI its first lead of the game and a one-goal halftime advantage, 6-5

QUARTER THREE
> UCI came out of the break on fire, scoring three-straight, with a goal from Shackelford and two from Ayala, respectively, to give the 'Eaters a 9-5 lead with 4:45 remaining
> The Aggies scored at 2:36 before Smith fired in a goal on a powerplay at 2:29
> UCD would find the back of the net twice down the stretch to cut UCI's lead, 10-8, at the end of the quarter

QUARTER FOUR
> The Aggies struck first in the frame with a goal at 6:24 to make it one point game, 10-9
> Skibby scored for the 'Eaters at 4:28 before UCD answered with a goal at 4:10 to make it 11-10
> UCD's Allyson Clague fired in a goal at 3:18 to knot the game, 11-11
> Clague got called for an exclusion with 28 seconds remaining and Ayala was able to capitalize on the extra-man opportunity with 11 seconds remaining to give UCI the 12-11 victory

NEXT
> UCI returns home to host Long Beach State in a Big West contest Saturday, March 19 at 12 p.m.