California Irvine Athletics

IRVINE, Calif. – The last two undefeated teams left in the Big West in No. 7/7 UC Irvine and No. 3/4 Hawai'i face off this Saturday (Apr. 5) to determine the league's top spot.
 
Week 11 Notes
 
GAME SCHEDULE
No. 7/7 UC Irvine at No. 3/4 Hawai'i
Saturday, April 5 | 9:00 PM | Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex
Live Stats

THIS WEEK'S STORYLINES
> UC Irvine enters the week ranked seventh in the CWPA Weekly Poll and seventh in the Association of College Water Polo Coaches poll
> UCI is set to clash with fellow undefeated in Big West play No. 3/3 Hawai'i in a pivotal Saturday (Apr. 5) night matchup
> Both teams are on winning streaks, the Anteaters winning nine straight and the Rainbow Wahine going six in a row
> This matchup between UCI and UH historically has been a rematch of the previous year's championship game
> No. 3/3 Hawai'i also had the last week off from action as they hold a 15-3 overall record, 4-0 in the Big West
> The Rainbow Wahine had a close call to Long Beach State where they squeaked out a 9-8 win in overtime
> UH has not lost since dropping to USC, 14-7, in game three of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational
> The Anteaters and Rainbow Wahine have already faced off this season at the Triton Invitational at the beginning of the season where UH came out on top, 18-17, in overtime
> Hawai'i is led by Ema Vernoux's 74 points with a team-best 59 goals and 15 assists followed by Jordan Wedderburn's 47 goals
> Bernadette Doyle tops UH in several statistical categories: assists (25), steals (30), and field blocks (10)
> In the cage, Daisy Logtens has stopped 131 shots, has been credited with 24 takeaways, and has four assists in 18 games played

NOTES
> UC Irvine continues their win streak, going for nine in a row and improve to 13-9 overall and 4-0 in the Big West after a two-win week
> Versus No. 22/22 Brown (W, 20-9)...
    -- Nioka Thomas led all players with four goals on perfect shooting at the cage while adding three drawn exclusions, two steals and an assist
    -- Both Lauren Hett and Madi O'Hara chipped in hat-tricks
    -- The win marked the Anteaters fifth 20-goal effort of the season
    -- Maja Layden and Libby Alexander ended with two goals apiece
    -- Ella Walker made the start in the cage and blocked five shots in 16 minutes
    -- Rachel Kirchner closed the game between the pipes to record four saves
    -- Five Anteaters dished two assists and four had two steals
    -- UCI was 3-3 on five-meter shots while the Bears were not able to score on their chances (0-2)
> Against No. 19/18 UC Santa Barbara (W, 13-11)...
    -- Brooke Hourigan facilitated the Anteaters offense behind an impressive seven-point outing with two goals and five assists
    -- Sophomore goalkeeper Ella Walker was impressive, recording a career-high 13 saves
    -- Both Lauren Hett and Sara Naulty notched hat-tricks in the contest
    -- Madi O'Hara had a multi-goal game with two scores
    -- Libby Alexander, Kennedy East, and Nioka Thomas rounded out the offense with one goal apiece
    -- Rachel Kirchner finished with 11 saves and a game-best four steals while in the cage
    -- Thomas drew a game-high six exclusions
> Lauren Hett is the team leader at 74 points with 53 goals and 21 assists
> Hett is three goals from hitting the 50-goal season milestone and it would be the 24th time a UCI player will do so
> Brooke Hourigan next at 57 tallies (28 goals, 29 assists) followed by Nioka Thomas' 42 goals and 10 assists for 52 points 
> Libby Alexander, Sara Naulty, and Kennedy East also sit above the 40-point threshold, tallying 48, 45, and 42 respectively
> Madi O'Hara leads the Anteaters with 38 drawn exclusions 
> Hourigan also holds the team lead in steals (25) while East has the top-spot in field blocks (8)
> Rachel Kirchner has 91 saves in the cage through 18 games and Ella Walker has 53 in nine