UCI Takes Down Long Beach State, 11-10

Sunday, February 25

Irvine, CA

9 a.m.

UC Irvine

6-8

Long Beach State

8-6

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Long Beach State	3	1	2	4	10
UC Irvine	3	1	4	3	11

UCI Takes Down Long Beach State, 11-10

February 25, 2024 | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

By: Jordan Kehoe

IRVINE, Calif. – No. 10/9 UC Irvine took down Black and Blue rival No. 12/12 Long Beach State, 11-10, in the seventh-place game of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational.

Both graduate student Brooke Hourigan and junior Gabby Norris notched hat-tricks in the contest.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Norris registered her first multi-goal game of the season
Libby Alexander was the other player to have a multi-score game for the Anteaters with two
Airian Grisham, Gracie Helberg, and Marilynn Hassett rounded out the scoring
Freshman Rachel Kirchner earned her first career start and win today as she blocked 10 shots
Alexander dished out a game best three assists
Sara Naulty tallied two assists
Kili Skibby, Jensine Bugelli, and Kirchner all stole the ball a team best two times
No. 12/12 Long Beach State was paced by Amanda Price with three goals on seven shots, an assist, and a steal

SCORING BREAKDOWN

First period: No. 12/12 Long Beach State got on the board first before Brooke Hourigan (5:50) leveled the score on her cross-cage dagger off the pass from Airian Grisham. The Beach pulled ahead by one, but Gabby Norris (3:14, 2:12) and Sara Naulty teamed up for two consecutive Anteater scores for the 3-2 advantage. LBSU knotted the score 3-all with two seconds remaining in the period with a last chance shot while up a player.
- Norris (2) and Hourigan (1)
Second period: Norris recorded the hat-trick at 3:40 as No. 10 UC Irvine called a timeout a few seconds prior to draw up a plan to get the ball into the back of the cage. The Beach once again scored in the final 10 seconds of the period to keep the game locked, 4-4.
- Norris (1)
Third period: Both teams remained scoreless for a few minutes until Libby Alexander drew an exclusion and then quickly converted at 6:23, but UCI was unable to hold their lead as LBSU equalized at 5:51, 5-5. The Anteaters went on a 3-0 that saw goals from Alexander (5:14) off a back post sneak, Marilynn Hassett (4:23), and Grisham (3:26). Long Beach State added one more in the final minute as UCI carried the 8-6 lead into the final stanza.
- Alexander (2), Grisham (1), and Hassett (1)
Fourth period: No. 10 UC Irvine continued their tear with a Hourigan (6:30) shot that banged in off the right post and Gracie Helberg's (5:03) quick flick into the cage on the 6-on-5 to put the 'Eaters ahead, 10-6. LBSU registered three unanswered in the following three and a half minutes to close within one. Hourigan deposited her third goal of the game with 54 seconds left as she found the wide-open spot. The Beach were able to get one back with 28 ticks on the clock, but it was not enough as UCI walked away with the 11-10 victory.
- Hourigan (2) and Helberg (1)

UP NEXT
The Anteaters make the trip to the Pomona-Pitzer Convergence Invitational from Mar. 1-2 and face Santa Clara (10:15 a.m.) and the hosting Sagehens (2 p.m.) to open the tournament.