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)

 
UP NEXT
UCI closes out the Convergence Invitational with a 3:30 p.m. meeting against No. 25/23 San Diego State.