Anteaters Fall To No. 1/1 UCLA In Semifinal Contest
February 01, 2025 | Women's Water Polo
LA JOLLA, Calif. – The Anteaters could not get going offensively, falling to No. 1/1 UCLA, 17-7, in the first semifinal contest of the tournament.
Sophomore attacker Lauren Hett continues to be the machine that powers the 'Eater attack, leading the team with two goals.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
SCORING BREAKDOWN
UP NEXT
The Anteaters are set to face No. 5/5 Hawai'i in the third-place game on Sunday Feb. 2 at 12:10 p.m. to close out the Triton Invitational.
Sophomore attacker Lauren Hett continues to be the machine that powers the 'Eater attack, leading the team with two goals.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Charley Birdsall contributed her first goal of the year
- Pippa Heaver has scored in two straight games
- Seven goals are the fewest by the Anteaters this season
SCORING BREAKDOWN
- First period: No. 6/8 UC Irvine saw themselves down by two to open the game, but the Anteaters were able to draw a foul that led to a scoring opportunity for Gracie Helberg at 2:09. Two more hit the back of the cage for No. 1/1 UCLA as they led, 4-1.
- Helberg (1)
- Second period: The Bruins put away three more unanswered before Brooke Hourigan (2:47) found the back of the cage. Hourigan inspired the UCI offense as Lauren Hett converted on the five-meter (1:01) and again with 16 seconds left in the half after an exclusion call, trailing 9-4.
- Hett (2) and Hourigan (1)
- Third period: UCLA just kept powering with four straight scores. The 'Eaters stopped the bleeding temporarily with makes from Pippa Heaver (2:10) and Kennedy East (1:08), but the Bruins found the cage again at 0:50 to push their advantage back out to 14-6.
- East (1) and Heaver (1)
- Fourth period: UCI was outscored in the final eight minutes of the contest, 3-1. The Anteaters did not see a score until under three minutes left, a continuing theme from the previous three periods, until Charley Birdsall's shot went in at 2:20. UCLA added one final tally after to claim the 17-7 victory.
- Birdsall (1)
UP NEXT
The Anteaters are set to face No. 5/5 Hawai'i in the third-place game on Sunday Feb. 2 at 12:10 p.m. to close out the Triton Invitational.
Team Stats
UCI
UCLA
Shots
18
17
Goals
7
17
Assists
5
13
Points
12
30
Exclusions
13
12
Steals
9
0
Sprints
0
4
1
Bia Mantellato
5:40
Genoa Rossi
3:01
Gracie Helberg
2:09
Natasha Kieckhafer
1:13
Bia Mantellato
0:02
2
Emma Lineback
7:05
Jojo Walters
4:11
Taylor Smith
3:10
Brooke Hourigan
2:47
Lauren Hett
1:03
Carly McMurray
0:44
Lauren Hett
0:16
Becca Melanson
0:01
3
Tali Stryker
5:28
Molly Renner
4:56
Emma Lineback
3:34
Taylor Smith
2:44
Pippa Heaver
2:10
Kennedy East
1:08
Emma Lineback
0:50
4
Becca Melanson
7:41
Natasha Kieckhafer
6:18
Charley Birdsall
2:20
Nicole Struss
2:04
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