CLAREMONT, Calif. – Four Anteaters recorded hat-tricks in No. 7/7 UC Irvine's dominating 19-5 win over Santa Clara to kick off the Convergence Invitational.
 
Freshman Marilynn Hassett ignited UCI's offensive effort as she knotted the game 2-all after two goal deficit and had notched her first career three-goal game by the end of the first period. Hassett then went on to dish out two assists and stole the ball a team best three times.
 
Sophomore transfer Maja Layden and redshirt freshman Charley Birdsall also notched their first career hat-tricks as Anteaters by the end of the contest.
 
Freshman Lauren Hett poured in three goals as well for her second three-goal performance of the season.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 11 different Anteaters contributed to the scoring effort
• UC Irvine shot at a blistering 0.576 clip (19-33) clip on the game and converted on 50 percent of their power play chances (4-8)
• Freshman Rachel Kirchner started between the posts recording her second consecutive win and tied her career high 10 saves
• Avy Newton, Kennedy East, and Jensine Bugelli added two assists each in the contest
• Bugelli joins Hassett for a game best three steals
• Annabelle Mundelius drew a team high two exclusions to go along with two steals and an assist
• Santa Clara was led by Kate Rodman who recorded three goals on six shots

 
SCORING BREAKDOWN

• First period: After finding themselves down 2-0 in the first three minutes of the game, No. 7/7 UC Irvine rattled off six unanswered to push ahead 6-2. Marilynn Hassett was incredible scoring the first two Anteater goals to tie the game up at 3:45 before notching her first career hat-trick with four seconds on the clock.
  • Hassett (3), Hett (1), Layden (1), and Norris (1)
• Second period: The Anteater run continued as they added five more goals to their run. UCI scored four of their five of the period (6:09, 5:45, 2:09, and 1:39) on counterattacks. Maja Layden secured the UCI lead with her ripping shot into the bottom corner with 44 seconds remaining in the half, 11-2.
  • Alexander (1), Layden (1), Naulty (1), O'Hara (1), and Shackelford (1)
• Third period: Santa Clara extinguished their scoring drought at 6:48 as they found the opening between the UCI defense to sneak the ball through and found the back of the net again (6:04) while up a player. Layden, Jensine Bugelli, and Charley Birdsall deposited the last three goals for either side in the period as the 'Eaters stayed ahead, 16-5.
  • Birdsall (2), Bugelli (1), Hett (1), and Layden (1)
• Fourth period: No. 7/7 UC Irvine's fiery offense could not be put out as the Anteaters finished the contest on a 6-0 run. The UCI defense remained stout to not allow the Broncos to score in the final stanza as the 'Eaters came away with the 19-5 victory.
  • Birdsall (1), Hett (1), and Hourigan (1)

UP NEXT
UCI takes on the hosts, RV/23 Pomona-Pitzer, in a 2 p.m. contest.