CLAREMONT, Calif. – No. 10/9 UC Irvine had a dominating second half performance, tallying 15 goals, to soar to an 18-6 victory over No. 20/20 San Diego State Saturday morning.
 
The Anteaters, who trailed by one at the half, 4-3, posted 10 scores in the third period while holding the Aztecs scoreless to build a commanding edge.
 
Three players, Nioka Thomas (3-6), Kennedy East (3-4), and Gracie Helberg (3-3), all notched hat-tricks in the win.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Maja Layden and Madi O'Hara followed with two goals each
• Lauren Hett, Libby Alexander, Pippa Heaver, Gabbie Graniello, and Deirdre Murphy rounded out the goal scoring
• Sophomore Rachel Kirchner made seven stops in the cage
• Brooke Hourigan, Layden, Hett, and Heaver all dished out two assists
• Heaver drew a game-high four exclusions with Murphy and O'Hara behind with three drawn kickouts
• Annabelle Mudelius recorded four steals, a game-best
• UCI shot 51.4 percent at the cage (18-34)
• No. 20/20 San Diego State was led by Sydney Gish's two goals and one steal

 
SCORING BREAKDOWN

• First period: No. 20/20 San Diego State drew fouls on their offensive end of the pool for two five-meter penalties, the last at 4:36 to go up by two. After a reset on offense for No. 10/9 UC Irvine, Madi O'Hara was able to deposit the ball into the cage off the corner throw set piece at 2:30 to trail, 2-1.
  • O'Hara (1)
• Second period: The scoring went back and forth in the second stanza. Neither side found the back of the cage until the Aztecs drew an exclusion, called a timeout, and then come out scoring at 4:23 before an SDSU turnover sent the Anteaters down the pool as Pippa Heaver dished to Kennedy East (3:40) for the score. San Diego State converted while up a player then Heaver (0:53) scored on the counterattack, down 4-3 at the half.
  • East (1) and Heaver (1)
• Third period: Fired up after the first half, the Anteaters ripped for 10 unanswered goals while holding the Aztecs scoreless. Nioka Thomas (7:32, 6:42) opened the third frame with two straight scores and then 40 seconds later Libby Alexander (6:04) found the back of the cage. Starting at 4:37 with Lauren Hett's put away on a power play, UCI scored on six consecutive offensive possession to now lead 13-4.
  • Thomas (3), East (2), Alexander (1), Helberg (1), Hett (1), Layden (1)
• Fourth period: San Diego State found the back of the cage at 7:29 for their first score since the final two minutes of the second period to stop the deficit, but the Anteaters rattled off four goals, the last by Deirdre Murphy (3:02) on her five-meter shot. Gabbie Graniello (0:50) had a response for the Aztecs conversion at 1:28, to hold onto the 18-6 victory.
  • Helberg (2), Graniello (1), Layden (1), Murphy (1)

 
UP NEXT
The Anteaters close out the Convergence Invitational at 4:30 p.m. to take on Cal State Monterey Bay.