LA JOLLA, Calif. – A powerful five goal performance from sophomore attacker Lauren Hett lifted No. 13/8 UC Irvine to a 16-11 victory over No. 9/7 UC San Diego in a Saturday matinee.
 
Senior attacker Libby Alexander helped to fuel the UCI offense, going for five goal contributions with three goals and two assists. The Anteater's defense was active as they took the ball away from the Tritons 16 times.
 
UCI, who has won their fifth straight game, improve to 9-9 overall and 2-0 in the Big West.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Kennedy East also chipped in a multi-goal performance with two
• Five Anteaters had one goal apiece
• Rachel Kirchner was a wall in the cage, stopping 10 shots to go with two steals
• Madi O'Hara alongside Hett and Alexander dished out two assists while drawing a game-high four exclusions
• Both Brooke Hourigan and East recorded a team-best three steals
• UCI shot 51.6 percent (16-31) in the game while converting 55.6 percent (5-9) of their powerplays
• The Anteaters went 2-3 on five-meter shots while UCSD was 0-0
• No. 9/7 UC San Diego was led by Kendall Thomas' four goals on six shots, an assist, and a steal

 
SCORING BREAKDOWN

• First period: Both teams saw a score on the opening possession on powerplay chances to keep the game even and then again two minutes later to make it a 2-2 game. No. 13/8 UC Irvine jumped ahead as Vivian Bailey (3:49) skipped the ball past the goalkeeper, Rachel Kirchner denying the one-on-one attempt on the defensive end, and Pippa Heaver (0:43) placing the ball in the back post. UCSD placed the ball into the near post with 16 seconds left on the clock to close withing 4-3.
  • Alexander (1), Bailey (1), Heaver (1), and Hett (1)
• Second period: Out of the break, No. 9/7 UC San Diego ripped from the top of the formation at 5:29 to knot the contest and would find a response to Lauren Hett (4:40) hitting from a up top and Sara Naulty's (2:27) deep shot to make it 6-all. On the counterattack from Kennedy East's steal, East dished over to Hett for the quick release at 24 seconds to put the Anteaters back in front, 7-6.
  • Hett (2) and Naulty (1)
• Third period: On UCI's opening possession, the Anteaters drew a penalty foul where Libby Alexander (7:15) converted the five-meter. The Tritons made it a one-goal game, 8-7, at 4:35 as they went one-on-one at the cage. Following that, UC Irvine went ahead 10-7 as Deirdre Murphy (4:21) faked out the defense to score in center and Naulty finding Hett (1:09) atop the formation.
  • Alexander (1), Hett (1), Murphy (1)
• Fourth period: The Anteaters kept powering as Alexander (6:37) ripped from the upper right corner from long-range. UCSD got back on the board to stop the UCI run, but Nioka Thomas answered with her signature back hand spin and rip in center at 5:05 followed by East's cross cage shot in the upper corner at 4:01 to give the 'Eaters the five-point advantage (13-8). Both sides saw three more scores before the end of the contest and East (1:52), Hett (1:10), and Brooke Hourigan (0:29) all did so with an empty net for the 16-11 win.
  • East (2), Alexander (1), Hett (1), Thomas (1)

 
UP NEXT
The Anteaters will head back to Irvine for a four-game homestand, starting with both CUI (Mar. 12) and CSUN (Mar. 14) next week.