IRVINE, Calif. – No. 10/10 UC Irvine dropped 10-7 to the visiting No. 5/6 USC in the Anteaters home opener on Saturday afternoon.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Senior Jensine Bugelli was the only UCI player to score multiple goals with two
• Libby Alexander, Brooke Hourigan, Madi O'Hara, Lauren Hett, and Sara Naulty rounded out the scoring
• Four different Anteaters were credited with an assist
• Senior Faith Tedesco played in net stopping eight shots
• Kili Skibby drew a team best four exclusions
• Skibby also stole the ball a game best three times
• Airian Grisham and Gracie Helberg tallied two steals each
• No. 5/6 USC was led by Ava Stryker who recorded three goals on five shots, two assists, and had a steal

 
SCORING BREAKDOWN

• First period: No. 10/10 UC Irvine kicked off the game with a Jensine Bugelli ripping backhanded shot (6:50) in the center to take the early 1-0 lead. No. 5/6 USC then went on to score three straight before the Women of Troy were called for an exclusion that allowed the ball to be kicked out to Libby Alexander to bring UCI back within one with 48 seconds left on the clock. With two ticks left, USC added one more to go back in front by two, 4-2.
  • Alexander (1) and Bugelli (1)
• Second period: The Anteaters found themselves in front of the cage and were given the five-meter penalty call which was put in by Brooke Hourigan (7:29) to again put UCI back within one score (4-3). USC stretched their advantage by two goals until Sara Naulty launched a missile from the far side into the netting for the score at 4:02. The Women of Troy found the goal again at 2:57 to take a 7-4 lead into the break.
  • Hourigan (1) and Naulty (1)
• Third period: After USC doubled the margin, Bugelli (3:33) pushed the ball over the line into the cage off the goalkeeper's deflection to stop the opposition's run. The Women of Troy closed the period with a bounce in shot with 1:36 on the clock, 9-5.
  • Bugelli (1)
• Fourth period: No. 5/6 USC faced two direct shots from UC Irvine a little more than two-meters out from Lauren Hett (6:55) and Madi O'Hara (0:32), both on the 6-on-5 opportunities. USC deposited a shot into the cage in between the two Anteater goals to seal their 10-7 victory.
  • Hett (1) and O'Hara (1)

 
UP NEXT
UCI will kick off the Barbara Kalbus Invitational with a rematch against No. 8/8 Michigan at 2:30 p.m. on Friday Feb. 23.