Postgame Press Conference
 
IRVINE, Calif. – Goalkeeper Rachel Kirchner denied a UC Santa Barbara five-meter penalty shot with 50 seconds left in the contest, preventing the tie, and helping the third seed UC Irvine to a close 12-11 finish in the first round of the 2025 Big West Championship.
 
The Anteaters, who faced a one-goal deficit heading into the final period, found the back of the cage five times in a heroic comeback from behind effort. UCI was also helped on defense with Kirchner's career-high 13 saves and crucial field block from Kennedy East.
 
UCI improves to 31-6 in Big West tournament contests, 15-12 overall, and draw the second seed in Long Beach State for the semifinal contest. It will be the fourth meeting between the two Black and Blue rivals this season, this time with a trip to the title game on the line.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Lauren Hett, Gracie Helberg, Brooke Hourigan, and Kennedy East each pitched in two scores
• Maja Layden, Libby Alexander, Nioka Thomas, and Pippa Heaver rounded out the scoring with one goal each
• Heaver put away the eventual game-winning goal with three minutes left in the contest
• Seven different Anteaters were credited with an assist
• Hett stole the ball away three times, a team-best
• Center's Nioka Thomas and Madi O'Hara each drew a game-best four exclusions
• UCSB drew four penalty shots (2-4) while UCI only received one (1-1)
• Sixth seeded and No. 18/18 UC Santa Barbara was led by Juju Amaral's seven points as she scored two goals and dished five assists

 
SCORING BREAKDOWN

• First period: Out of the opening sprint, No. 18/18 UC Santa Barbara was primed for a one-on-one opportunity until they were fouled at 7:26, leading to a score at the five-meter spot. The Gauchos then had a turnaround rip from center (6:09) as the shot clock was winding down to claim a 2-0 edge. No. 7/7 UC Irvine answered on their next trip down the pool as Gracie Helberg (5:36) skipped the ball in the nearside on the pass from Libby Alexander. After four minutes of silence on offense, Nioka Thomas drew the exclusion and had a quick give and go with Kennedy East for the score at 1:37, making it 2-all.
  • Helberg (1) and Thomas (1)
• Second period: After UCSB broke the tie on a put away while up a player, Anteater goalkeeper Rachel Kircher blocked a straight on attempt as the Gauchos corralled the rebound on their penalty shot that hit the post. Each side exchanged goals as UCI saw the ball hit the back of the cage on a swinging shot from Brooke Hourigan (6:25) and a mangled elevation from Kennedy East (1:56), but UCSB had the last say at 1:43 when their shot hit off the post and floated in to hold the advantage into the halftime break, 5-4.
  • East (1) and Hourigan (1)
• Third period: Kicking off the second half, Alexander tossed a desperation loft to prevent the shot clock violation and was pleasantly surprised as it fell into the cage at 7:33 to move the game back to a deadlock. Following, Hourigan dished into East who fired from point blank range to hand the designated home team their first lead of the contest, 6-5, at 6:57. The Gauchos rattled off two unanswered in the following two minutes of action to move back in front. Maja Layden had the answer, a few pump fakes before placing the ball into the lower right corner making it a 7-7 contest. UCSB broke the tie at 2:09 on the power play opportunity to stay ahead by one.
  • Alexander (1), East (1), and Layden (1)
• Fourth period: UC Irvine came out with a different attitude in the final stanza and tackled the scoring by committee. Lauren Hett found the upper right corner, needing some help from the cross bar to get in at 6:37 before moving the scale in the Anteaters favor at 5:55 as she fired cross cage into the same spot. The 'Eaters continued to rip as Helberg (5:15) buried the one-on-one and Hourigan (4:35) registered the five-meter. After UCSB regrouped and fell into the hands of two costly UCI fouls, they brought it back to a one-point contest, 11-10 at 3:50, the last a poor deflection in. Pippa Heaver became the offensive hero at 2:58, bouncing in her eventual game-winning goal. An open shot from the back side of the cage from UC Santa Barbara with 1:43 left in the game brought it back to a one score contest, 12-11. The Gauchos continued to threaten but were denied the chance to send the game to an extra frame as Kirchner spread out to cover the goal, stopping the five-meter penalty.
  • Hett (2), Heaver (1), Helberg (1), and Hourigan (1)

 
UP NEXT
The Anteaters will face Black and Blue rival and the second-seed Long Beach State in Saturday's (Apr. 26) semifinal, a rematch of last year's preliminary to the final. The game is set to start at 2 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.