IRVINE, Calif. – No. 5 UC Irvine sent the seniors off in style with a 12-8 victory over No. 12 UC San Diego Friday night at the Anteater Aquatics Center.

The senior class had a big hand in the victory with Tara Prentice recording four goals, four steals and two assists,  Sarah Nichols had a goal, assist and steal, Toni Shackelford notched a goal, assist and two steals and Piper Smith had a goal in the victory.

The Anteaters improve to 19-6 overall and 5-1 in the Big West and clinch the No. 2 seed at the Big West Championship.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Elena Flynn and Jessica Lynch each scored twice for the Anteaters
>Kili Skibby had a goal and two assists
>Goalkeeper Faith Tedesco tallied six saves
>UCSD was led by Taylor Onstott with three goals, while Bennett Bugelli logged seven saves

FIRST PERIOD
>Tara Prentice fired a backhand to getting the scoring going at 6:44
>After a lob shot by Elena Flynn just bounced off the cage, Prentice grabbed the rebound and spun around for another goal at 5:54
>Jessica Lynch swam in and used the inside of the left post to guide the ball in at 4:46, 3-0
>The Tritons would then score three consecutive goals at 2:59,  2:21 and 1:19 to knot the score at 3-3
>Flynn would waste no time to regain control with a goal on a pass from Kili Skibby at 1:07, 4-3

SECOND PERIOD
>Sarah Nichols drew the defender then dished to Lynch on the left side who deposited the ball in the net at 6:40, 5-3
>UCSD would miss a penalty shot at 6:22
>With an advantage, Lynch feed Piper Smith for a goal on the right side at 4:32, 6-3
>UCSD would stop UCI momentum with a goal at 2:10, 6-4
>After two UCI shots narrowly missed the cage, a lob went in for the Tritons at 1:06 to edge to 6-5
>Kili Skibby answered on a pass from Flynn with 49 seconds to go, 7-5
>A great save by UCSD's Bennett Bugelli on a breakaway from Prentice

THIRD PERIOD
>Once again Prentice found a rebound off a Smith shot off the bar and lobbed it in at 7:18
>Skibby found Flynn charging down the middle of the pool for a one-on-one goal at 5:48 to increase the lead to 9-5

FOURTH
>Brooke Banta found Prentice down low and she pushed the ball in from center at 7:10
>Taylor Onstott scored from deep for the Tritons at 4:55 then Toni Shackleford did the same for UCI at 4:32, 11-7
>After a ball under call, Prentice took the ball and found Sarah Nichols for the score, 12-7 (3:13)
>A Triton skip shot snuck in the left corner at 2:47 on Tedesco then UCSD scored on Smith for the final goal with eight seconds remaining

NOTES
>UCI had a .343 hitting percentage, making 12 of 35 shots
 
UP NEXT
UCI will compete in the Big West Championships Apr. 21-23 in Honolulu.