No. 7 'Eaters Split Saturday with Loss to No. 8 Michigan

Saturday, January 22

Tempe, Ariz.

12:30 PM

UC Irvine

2-1

Michigan

1-1

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Michigan	1	2	2	2	7
UC Irvine	0	3	1	2	6

Photo by: Glenn Feingerts

No. 7 'Eaters Split Saturday with Loss to No. 8 Michigan

January 22, 2022 | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

By: Alex Roberts-Croteau

TEMPE, Ariz. --- UC Irvine women's water polo finished their Saturday doubleheader with an afternoon loss to No. 8 Michigan, 7-6, at the ASU Cross Conference Challenge.

UC Irvine (2-1) was held in check on the offensive end scoring just six goals including none in the first period against the Wolverines (1-2). Elena Flynn led the Anteaters with a pair of goals. Tara Prentice equaled her with two points scoring in the final minute of regulation and adding an assist, however she was unsuccessful on two five-meter penalties in the first quarter the ultimately made the difference.

Faith Tedesco in net stopped five shots in her first loss in net in her career. She added a steal, one of five for the squad in the match. Jessica Lynch also scored giving her five on the day, and the scoring was rounded out by freshmen Kennedy East and Nioka Thomas.

The match was dominated by defense which included the first period that featured no goals for the first 14 possessions of the game until Michigan netted one with eight seconds left in the period. The game also featured droughts of 6:25 and 4:26 at its longest points.

Inside the Numbers

Flynn's two goal game is the eighth multi-goal game of her career and first since 2020
Prentice has scored in all three games this season and now has 177 over her Anteater career
With the 7:52 shutout stretch to the start the match, UCI had a streak of 16:18 without allowing a goal extending back to this morning's contest

First Half

Neither side managed a goal for the first 7:52 of the match; UCI was held scoreless in a period for the first time this season
The 'Eaters went on a bit of a run outscoring Michigan 3-1 over the final six minutes of the first half to go into the break tied, 3-3

Second Half

The sides traded shots throughout the second half with Flynn tying things at 4-4 with 2:53 left in the third, and Jessica Lynch tied it back at 5-5 with five minutes left in the match
For only the third time in the match a team scored consecutive goals as Michigan did to put the game out of reach, 7-5, with 1:39 left in the fourth
Tara Prentice gave UCI life drawing Michigan to within 7-6 with 25 seconds to go

Match Notes

UCI still leads the all-time series now 8-6
The Anteaters turned the Wolverines away on all seven powerplay opportunities
UC Irvine is now 5-8 all-time in matches at Arizona State

Final Challenge
The ASU Cross Conference Challenge concludes Sunday for the Anteaters with a 9:00 a.m. matchup against No. 5 Cal. Fans can watch the match live online via the Pac-12 Live Stream.