IRVINE, Calif. – No. 9/8 UC Irvine took down RV Cal State Fullerton, 15-4, in the home finale inside the Anteater Aquatics Complex.
 
The Anteaters improve to 16-10 overall and 4-2 in Big West action, good for third in the standings.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Airian Grisham paced the Anteater offensive effort with a first quarter hat-trick going a perfect 3-3 at the cage while adding an assist in the first eight minutes
• Libby Alexander and Lauren Hett rounded out the double figure scoring with two goals each
• Eight other 'Eaters deposited a shot into the cage
• UCI out shot Cal State Fullerton, 37-17
• Jordan Frost made the start and played the first half in the cage blocking three shots
• Faith Tedesco entered the cage in the second half for two saves
• Gabby Norris, Marilynn Hassett, Madeline Kasper, and Alexander all dished out a game best two assists
• Hett stole the ball four times followed by Hassett with three
• Six other Anteaters recorded multiple steals in the contest
• RV Cal State Fullerton was led by Destiny Hernandez who recorded two goals on four shots

SCORING BREAKDOWN

• First period: No. 9/8 UC Irvine was fiery from the start scoring all four goals in the span of two minutes. Libby Alexander (6:47) was first on board with a shot into the top right shelf off the pass from Airian Grisham. Then, Grisham went for the hat-trick (6:19, 5:45, and 4:52) as her last goal banged in off the post. RV Cal State Fullerton placed the ball into the cage on the power play opportunity with 3:12 on the clock, 4-1.
  • Grisham (3) and Alexander (1)
• Second period: Maja Layden put a beauty into the cage during the 6-on-5 at 4:41 before the Titans responded back on the other end (3:57) with a score of their own. Vivian Bailey (1:02) and Jensine Bugelli (0:32) pushed the Anteater advantage with back-to-back tallies, 7-2.
  • Bailey (1), Bugelli (1), and Layden (1)
• Third period: The Anteaters continued their offensive excellence with four unanswered. Madeline Kasper came into the game and bended the ball around the arms of the Titan goalkeeper for the score at 7:33. The scoring run was closed with Kennedy East's (0:51) straight on dagger. UCI played tremendous defense in the third stanza that prevented CSUF from finding the back of the cage until there was 23 seconds left on the clock, 11-3.
  • Alexander (1), East (1), Kasper (1), and Skibby (1)
• Fourth period: RV Cal State Fullerton went for the quick goal at 7:35 to add onto their scoring effort started in the third. UCI remained hot for another four goals in the eight-minute span, the last an off speed high shot from Avy Newton (1:22) to seal the 15-4 victory.
  • Hett (2), Newton (1), and Norris (1)

 
UP NEXT
No. 9/8 UC Irvine closes out the regular season with a Black and Blue rivalry game at No. 7/9 Long Beach State on Apr. 18 at 7 p.m.