Saturday, February 15
Irvine, CA
12:00 PM
UC Irvine
vs
UCLA
UC Irvine Opens Home Slate With No. 3/3 UCLA
February 14, 2025 | Women's Water Polo
IRVINE, Calif. – The Anteaters will face No. 3/3 UCLA for the second time this season and first inside the Anteater Aquatics Complex on Feb. 15 for a 12 p.m. start.
Week Four Notes
GAME SCHEDULE
No. 3/3 UCLA at No. 6/6 UC Irvine
Saturday, February 15 | 12:00 PM | Anteater Aquatics Complex
Watch | Live Stats
THIS WEEK'S STORYLINES
> UC Irvine enters the week ranked sixth in both the CWPA Weekly Poll and the Association of College Water Polo Coaches poll
> UCI opens their home slate with a 12 p.m. meeting with No. 3/3 UCLA on Saturday Feb. 15
> The two teams met in the semifinals of the Triton Invitational where the Bruins prevailed, 17-7
> UCI is still looking for their first ever win against UCLA in program history
> No. 3/3 UCLA enters the contest with a 7-1 overall record, 1-0 in the MPSF
> UCLA's lone loss of the season came in the championship game of the Triton Invitational to then No. 3 ranked USC, 14-11
> In their last outing, the Bruins defeated Arizona State, 12-8, in their conference opener
> Anna Pearson leads the scoring with 15 total games followed by Hawai'i transfer Bia Mantellato's 14 tallies
> Emma Lineback is also scoring in double figures with 12 goals
> Lauren Steele has made seven starts this season, going 6-1 in the cage, and has made 64 saves
> Joey Niz has made 15 saves in her 42 total minutes of action
NOTES
> The Anteaters poured in six fourth period goal in an effort to overcome a 10-point deficit, but fell short, 19-15, at No. 1/1 USC
> At No. 1/1 USC
-- Three UC Irvine players notched hat-tricks in the contest. Both Libby Alexander and Brooke Hourigan were perfect at the cage while Nioka Thomas went 3-5.
-- Both Sara Naulty and Kennedy East had multi-goal games with two each
-- Pippa Heaver and Deirdre Murphy rounded out the scoring with one goal apiece
-- Hourigan and East both dished out three assists
-- Sophomore Rachel Kirchner played the first three quarters in the cage making three saves
-- Sophomore Ella Walker made her Anteater debut in fourth quarter to stop
three shots
-- No. 1/1 USC was led by Emily Ausmus' and Tilly Kearns five goals
> Lauren Hett leads all Anteaters with 11 points on the season with eight goals and three assists
> Libby Alexander and Nioka Thomas are behind Hett with six goals each
> Brooke Hourigan leads the distribution effort for the Anteaters with six dimes and Pippa Heaver close with five
> Hett is tied with Mary Hassett and Rachel Kirchner with four steals apiece
Week Four Notes
GAME SCHEDULE
No. 3/3 UCLA at No. 6/6 UC Irvine
Saturday, February 15 | 12:00 PM | Anteater Aquatics Complex
Watch | Live Stats
THIS WEEK'S STORYLINES
> UC Irvine enters the week ranked sixth in both the CWPA Weekly Poll and the Association of College Water Polo Coaches poll
> UCI opens their home slate with a 12 p.m. meeting with No. 3/3 UCLA on Saturday Feb. 15
> The two teams met in the semifinals of the Triton Invitational where the Bruins prevailed, 17-7
> UCI is still looking for their first ever win against UCLA in program history
> No. 3/3 UCLA enters the contest with a 7-1 overall record, 1-0 in the MPSF
> UCLA's lone loss of the season came in the championship game of the Triton Invitational to then No. 3 ranked USC, 14-11
> In their last outing, the Bruins defeated Arizona State, 12-8, in their conference opener
> Anna Pearson leads the scoring with 15 total games followed by Hawai'i transfer Bia Mantellato's 14 tallies
> Emma Lineback is also scoring in double figures with 12 goals
> Lauren Steele has made seven starts this season, going 6-1 in the cage, and has made 64 saves
> Joey Niz has made 15 saves in her 42 total minutes of action
NOTES
> The Anteaters poured in six fourth period goal in an effort to overcome a 10-point deficit, but fell short, 19-15, at No. 1/1 USC
> At No. 1/1 USC
-- Three UC Irvine players notched hat-tricks in the contest. Both Libby Alexander and Brooke Hourigan were perfect at the cage while Nioka Thomas went 3-5.
-- Both Sara Naulty and Kennedy East had multi-goal games with two each
-- Pippa Heaver and Deirdre Murphy rounded out the scoring with one goal apiece
-- Hourigan and East both dished out three assists
-- Sophomore Rachel Kirchner played the first three quarters in the cage making three saves
-- Sophomore Ella Walker made her Anteater debut in fourth quarter to stop
three shots
-- No. 1/1 USC was led by Emily Ausmus' and Tilly Kearns five goals
> Lauren Hett leads all Anteaters with 11 points on the season with eight goals and three assists
> Libby Alexander and Nioka Thomas are behind Hett with six goals each
> Brooke Hourigan leads the distribution effort for the Anteaters with six dimes and Pippa Heaver close with five
> Hett is tied with Mary Hassett and Rachel Kirchner with four steals apiece
Players Mentioned
UTILITY
/ Women's Water Polo
ATTACKER
/ Women's Water Polo
ATTACKER
/ Women's Water Polo
ATTACKER
/ Women's Water Polo
ATTACKER
/ Women's Water Polo
ATTACKER
/ Women's Water Polo
GOALKEEPER
/ Women's Water Polo
CENTER
/ Women's Water Polo
ATTACKER
/ Women's Water Polo
CENTER
/ Women's Water Polo
GOALKEEPER
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