IRVINE, Calif. - No. 8 UC Irvine women's water polo team defeated No. 12 San Jose State, 15-7, in their first game of the season-opening Polopalooza tournament in Fresno on Saturday morning. 

The 'Eaters took an early 2-0 lead, but the Spartans quickly tied it up to keep the game close in the first frame. UCI scored the final three goals of the period to take a 5-2 lead. UC Irvine and San Jose State traded goals in the second period to leave the Anteaters up, 7-4, at the end of the half. Madi O'Hara netted three goals to open up the third period and give the 'Eaters a 10-4 advantage. The Spartans found the back of the net twice to end the third period and cut the lead, 10-6. UCI outscored San Jose State, 5-1, in the final frame to secure the 15-7 victory. 

BY THE NUMBERS: Redshirt senior Madi O'Hara led the 'Eaters with five goals while Junior Lauren Hett added four tallies. 

Freshman Sydney Hagan notched the hat trick while Pippa Heaver, Sara Naulty, and Hollis Munchoff each netted one goal. Freshman Annie Peak recorded three saves and four steals. 

Darcy Spark led the Spartans with three goals. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: Lauren Hett opened up the scoring on the power play at the 6:33 mark before Sara Naulty found the back of the net at the 5:33 mark to take a 2-0 lead. San Jose State got on the board before adding a tally on a penalty shot to tie it up, 2-all, at the 3:55 mark. Madi O'Hara (3:40) and Sydney Hagan (2:56) each netted one to regain the lead, 4-2. Hagan added another tally (0:50) before the horn to increase the lead, 5-2. 

Pippa Heaver found the back of the net to open up the second frame and pad the advantage, 6-2, at the 6:53 mark. The Spartans answered on the man advantage to pull within three, 6-3, at the 6:34 mark. O'Hara found the back of the net at the 4:36 mark before the Spartans notched the last goal of the half to cut the 'Eaters advantage, 7-4. 

O'Hara came out hot in the third period, finding the back of the net on the power play (5:07), before adding two more (4:14, 3:20) to boost the Anteaters advantage, 10-4. San Jose State netted the final two goals of the period, first on the man advantage and then on a penalty shot, to cut the lead, 10-6. 

Hett found the back of the net at the 7:42 mark before Hagan netted her third of the game (7:20) to increase UCI's lead, 12-6. Hett notched the hat trick at the 6:39 mark before the Spartans got one back to cut the advantage, 13-7. Hett added another tally at the 3:49 mark to boost the lead, 14-7. Hollis Munchoff netted the final goal of the game on the power play (1:13) to cap off the Anteater win, 15-7. 

UP NEXT: The 'Eaters are back in action this evening against the tournament host, No. 7 Fresno State, at 5 p.m.