IRVINE, Calif. - No. 8 UC Irvine women's water polo team fell to No. 7 Fresno State 15-12 in their second game of the season-opening Polopalooza tournament at Fresno State Aquatics Center on Saturday night.

The Bulldogs outscored the 'Eaters 5-2 in the first frame and 6-2 in the second frame. UCI fought back and scored four unanswered to start the third quarter. Fresno State and the Anteaters traded goals over the remainder of the third period to leave the Bulldogs up, 13-9. Fresno State opened up the scoring in the final frame before Lauren Hett netted two to pull within three, 11-14. The Bulldogs answered with a tally of their own before the 'Eaters netted one more to end the game, 15-12. 

BY THE NUMBERS: Junior Lauren Hett led the 'Eaters with five goals. Junior Sara Naulty and Freshman Sydney Hagan each earned the hat trick. Redshirt senior Madi O'Hara added one tally. 

Hailey Andress led the Bulldogs with five goals while Katelyn Mobley recorded 12 saves. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: Lauren Hett opened up the scoring on a penalty shot (6:00) to take an early 1-0 lead. Fresno State netted three in a row, the first on the man advantage and the last on a penalty shot, to take a 3-1 lead at the 3:41 mark. Sydney Hagan found the back of the net at the 2:38 mark to cut the deficit, 3-2. The Bulldogs added two more before the horn to increase their lead, 5-2. 

Fresno State added two power play goals to increase their lead, 7-2, at the 6:44 mark. Hett found the back of the net at the 6:12 mark The Bulldogs capitalized on the man advantage before adding another to pad their advantage, 9-3. Hagan netted her second of the game on the power play at the 2:35 mark to cut the deficit, 9-4. Fresno State added two more, one on the power play, to increase their lead, 11-4, at the end of the half. 

The 'Eaters came out hot in the third quarter, going on a 4-0 run to open the frame. Madi O'Hara found the back of the net at the 7:14 mark before Hett notched the hat trick on the man advantage (4:02) to cut the deficit, 11-6. Sara Naulty capitalized on a penalty shot (3:44) before adding another tally (2:55) to pull within three, 11-8. The Bulldogs got one back to pad their advantage, 12-8, at the 2:31 mark. Naulty secured the hat trick (1:15) before Fresno State netted one of their own to end the quarter, 13-9.  

The Bulldogs found the back of the net to open the final frame before Hett notched her fourth (6:47) and fifth (4:02) goals of the match, the latter coming on the power play, to cut the deficit, 14-11. Fresno State capitalized on a five-meter attempt to increase their lead, 15-11. Hagan added a tally for the hat trick and to end the match, 15-12. 

UP NEXT: The 'Eaters are back in action tomorrow morning as they take on No. 10 Indiana at 8 a.m. for day two of Polopalooza at Fresno State Aquatics Center.