IRVINE, Calif. – No. 7 UC Irvine's strong defense could not hold on as No. 13 UC San Diego defeated the Anteaters, 6-5, on Friday evening.
 
Former Director of Aquatics and Operations Bruce Reynolds was honored prior to the start of the contest for his years of contributions and dedication to both the men's and women's programs.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Jensine Bugelli led the UCI attack with two goals
• Gracie Helberg, Brooke Hourigan, and Lauren Hett contributed the remaining scores
• Faith Tedesco totaled five saves and an assist in 32 minutes in the cage
• Airian Grisham and Gabby Norris dished out one assist apiece
• Bugelli and Kili Skibby each stole the ball a game best four times
• UCSD went 4-6 on power play chances while UCI went 2-9
• UC Irvine took 31 to the Tritons 20
• No. 13 UC San Diego was led by Sofia Munatones who recorded two goals and two steals  

 
SCORING BREAKDOWN

• First period: No. 13 UC San Diego used a dagger from deep (6:51) and a one-on-one situation (5:27) to take the early advantage in the contest. No. 7 UC Irvine responded with Lauren Hett's (1:21) ripping shot into the nearside post to get on the board, 2-1.
  • Hett (1)
• Second period: Defense was strong on both sides as Jensine Bugelli (2:34) scored the lone goal of the stanza. The fifth-year senior received the long ball to go one one-on-one with the Triton keeper for the equalizer, 2-2.
  • Bugelli (1)
• Third period: Brooke Hourigan started the action as she found the slight space above the Triton goalkeeper's arm to break the deadlock at 6:44. Each team seemed to have an answer for each other, but UCSD was able to put one more away in the period to take the 5-4 lead into the fourth.
  • Helberg (1) and Hourigan (1)
• Fourth period: No. 13 UC San Diego grabbed the rebound from their previous shot the hit the post for the put-in at 4:15. The Anteaters were able to close within one, 6-5, with 1:42 remaining with the pass to Bugelli who was right at the two-meter mark in the center. UCI went 7-on-6 in the final 20 seconds of the contest and could not convert on their last second shot.
  • Bugelli (1)

 
UP NEXT
No. 7 UC Irvine continues the home stand with cross-town Concordia Irvine at 7 p.m. on Mar. 13.