Balanced Offense Lifts UCI Past Marist, 15-7

Saturday, March 2

Pomona, CA

9:15 a.m.

UC Irvine

9-8

Marist

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Marist	3	1	0	3	7
UC Irvine	4	4	5	2	15

Balanced Offense Lifts UCI Past Marist, 15-7

March 02, 2024 | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

By: Jordan Kehoe

CLAREMONT, Calif. – No. 7/7 UC Irvine's balanced offense lifted them over No. 23/25 Marist, 15-7.

After only holding the one-point advantage after the first period, junior Libby Alexander kicked up the jets to notch a hat-trick in the second frame to finish the contest with a game high four goals.

Alexander also assisted on a goal and drew an exclusion to help UCI improve to 9-8 overall on the year.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

The trio of Jensine Bugelli, Charley Birdsall, and Gabby Norris recorded two goals each
Airian Grisham, Madi O'Hara, Lauren Hett, Sara Naulty, and Marilynn Hassett rounded out the scoring with their goals
Senior Jordan Frost earned the start in the cage, stopping three shots in 16 minutes
Faith Tedesco was between the pipes in the second half blocking five shots
Hett dished out a career and game best three assists
Avy Newton, Gracie Helberg, and Brooke Hourigan recorded two assists apiece
Newton has tallied two multi-assist games over the two days of action
O'Hara drew a game high four exclusions
UCI stole the ball 11 times to Marist's five
No. 23/25 Marist was led by Shinae Carrington with two goals and a steal

SCORING BREAKDOWN

First period: No. 7/7 UC Irvine went on a 2-0 run which featured Jensine Bugelli's signature steal and then score at 6:36. No. 23/25 Marist seemed to have an answer for every Anteater goal after that, but it did not stop Gabby Norris (2:57, 2:11) from sneaking it on the backside of the Red Fox goalkeeper and hitting again from the far side, 4-3.
- Norris (2), Bugelli (1), and Grisham (1)
Second period: The Anteaters came out firing after the first eight minutes of action. Marilynn Hassett's (5:15) extra player advantage goal was sandwiched between two scores from Libby Alexander (7:23 and 3:01) to increase the UCI lead to four. Marist was able to halt the fiery 'Eaters with their deposit into the cage at 2:33. Alexander notched the hat-trick with 15 seconds remaining with her deep shot as the Anteaters lead at the half, 8-4.
- Alexander (3) and Hassett (1)
Third period: UCI extended their lead out to 13-4 by the completion of the third stanza off a 6-0 run that started at the end of the first half while holding No. 23/25 Marist scoreless. Charley Birdsall played outstanding offense that got her involved on the Alexander score at 3:22 before placing two of her own (2:42 and 2:03) into the net.
- Birdsall (2), Alexander (1), Bugelli (1), and Naulty (1)
Fourth period: Redshirt sophomore Madi O'Hara stood out for the Anteaters in the final eight minutes as she not only put one in the cage at 4:07 but stole the ball and drew three exclusions. The Red Foxes found the goal three times with their last at 0:38, but it was not enough as UCI earned the 15-7 win.
- Hett (1) and O'Hara (1)