Friday, February 20
Irvine, Calif.
6:00 PM
UC Irvine
vs
UC San Diego
'Eaters Kick Off Big West Action, Host No. 14 UC San Diego
February 19, 2026 | Women's Water Polo
GAME NOTES
IRVINE, Calif. - No. 10 UC Irvine opens up Big West play on Friday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m., as they host No. 14 UC San Diego at Anteater Aquatics Complex.
ANTEATER TIDBITS
• UCI moved to 4-9 overall after going 1-2 at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, Feb. 13-15.
• The 'Eaters fell to No. 1 Stanford, 6-15, in the opening game of the tournament on Feb. 13.
• UC Irvine dropped to Big West rival No. 5 Hawai'i, 6-11, on Feb. 14.
• The Anteaters finished the weekend with a win over No. 7 Long Beach State, 15-13.
• UCI finished in seventh place at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational.
• Junior Annabelle Mundelius led the way with 6 goals on the weekend, bringing her season total to 14.
• Freshman Michelle Urkov and redshirt senior Madi O'Hara each netted four goals.
• UCI finished second in the Big West last season with a 5-2 conference record and 15-13 overall.
• The 'Eaters recorded 413 goals in 28 games played in 2025, a new best in single season history.
• UC Irvine has posted a winning record for 20 straight seasons.
IN THE RANKINGS
UCI improved to 10th in the latest Collegiate Water Polo Association rankings released on February 11. The 'Eaters climb one spot after going 1-2 on the weekend.
SCOUTING THE TRITONS
No. 14 UC San Diego moved to 5-5 overall after falling to LMU, 8-9, on Feb. 7. The Tritons went 1-3 at the Triton Invitational, Jan. 30-Feb 1., and fell to the 'Eaters, 9-14, during the tournament. Junior Abigail Schechter leads the Tritons with 28 goals this season, followed by junior Emily Cloherty with 19. Senior Bria Zwaschka leads UC San Diego between the pipes with over 280 minutes logged, 91 saves, and 16 steals.
SERIES HISTORY
The 'Eaters defeated the Tritons, 14-9, on Feb. 1 at the Triton Invitational this season. In 2025, UC Irvine took the conference match up, 16-11, on Mar. 8, but fell to the Tritons at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, 11-12, on Feb. 22. UCI and UC San Diego clashed once in the 2024 season where the Tritons prevailed, 6-5, on Mar. 8. The Anteaters defeated UC San Diego twice in the 2023 season, first in their conference match up on Mar. 10, where the 'Eaters won 10-9, and again at the Big West Championship on April 29, where UCI triumphed, 12-6.
LAST TIME OUT
The 'Eaters fell to No. 1 Stanford, 6-15, in the opening game of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational on Feb. 13. Sophomore Deirdre Murphy netted two against the Cardinal, while junior Ella Walker recorded eight saves and two steals. UCI dropped to No. 5 Hawai'i, 6-11, on Feb. 14. Juniors Sara Naulty and Annabelle Mundelius each scored two goals against the Rainbow Wahine, while Walker recorded seven saves. The Anteaters defeated No. 7 Long Beach State in their final game of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, 15-13, on Feb. 15. Mundelius netted four goals against the Beach and Redshirt senior Madi O'Hara recorded three tallies.
ON THE ATTACK
The 'Eaters, who are averaging 10.8 goals per contest, have six players with at least ten goals on the season so far. Lauren Hett leads the way with 34 goals and seven hat tricks, while Madi O'Hara has 23 goals and four hat tricks. Junior Sara Naulty is the third leading scorer with 15 goals. Freshman Michelle Urkov and Junior Annabelle Mundelius ranks fourth in scoring with 14 goals each. Freshman Sydney Hagan joined the ten-goal club for the first time in her career with a total of 11 tallies.
MINDING THE NET
Junior Ella Walker has appeared in 10 of the 13 games this season for over 262 minutes in the cage. She has recorded 61 saves and six steals, with a season-high 12 saves against No. 2 UCLA (Feb. 7). Walker owns a 10.49 goals against average and a .415 save percentage. Freshman Annie Peak has appeared in six games, logging 110 minutes in net and tallying 17 saves and eight steals. Freshman CJ Sirls appeared in two ganes, logging 32 minutes with four saves and one steal. Sophomore Mayezie Loggins has appeared in two games for 17 minutes in net, recording two saves and one steal.
COLLEGIATE FIRSTS
Freshman Sydney Hagan quickly made an impact for the 'Eaters, scoring seven goals in her first weekend of collegiate competition. Her first goal came against San Jose State, where she tacked on two more for her first career hat trick on Jan. 17. She notched her second hat trick in her very next game against Fresno State. Chloe Patist netted her first career goal against No. 5 California on Jan. 18.
PRESEASON HONORS
Junior attacker Lauren Hett was named to the seven-member Preseason All-Big West Team as voted on by the conference's head coaches. Hett is coming of a 2025 campaign in which she led the 'Eaters with 67 goals and 97 points. Last year, she also earned a third-team All-America selection and an All-Big West First Team honor. Hett was also the first player in program history to be named to the watch list for the prestigious Peter J. Cutino award in 2025.
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
With recent rule changes promoting offense, the Anteaters recorded 413 goals in 28 games played in the 2025 season, a new best in single-season history. Last year's squad also averaged 14.8 goals per game, a new single-season record. The 2026 'Eaters aim to build on the offensive momentum generated last season.
NEW FACES, NEW ROLES
The 2026 roster features eight newcomers this season who look to make an immediate impact. The squad added two goalkeepers, Annie Peak and CJ Sirls, along with center Jess Reagan and defender Chloe Patist. The 'Eaters also welcomed four attackers: Sydney Hagan, Anya Frey, Michelle Urkov, and Marisol Cowles.
ALL-BIG WEST RETURNERS
The Anteaters return three All-Big West honorees from the 2025 squad. Lauren Hett was named to the first team, and Madi O'Hara garnered honorable mention distinction. Pippa Heaver was selected to the All-Big West Freshman Team in her rookie season
UP NEXT
The 'Eaters will continue their home stand as they continue Big West action on Friday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m., as they host No. 5 Hawai'i.
IRVINE, Calif. - No. 10 UC Irvine opens up Big West play on Friday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m., as they host No. 14 UC San Diego at Anteater Aquatics Complex.
ANTEATER TIDBITS
• UCI moved to 4-9 overall after going 1-2 at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, Feb. 13-15.
• The 'Eaters fell to No. 1 Stanford, 6-15, in the opening game of the tournament on Feb. 13.
• UC Irvine dropped to Big West rival No. 5 Hawai'i, 6-11, on Feb. 14.
• The Anteaters finished the weekend with a win over No. 7 Long Beach State, 15-13.
• UCI finished in seventh place at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational.
• Junior Annabelle Mundelius led the way with 6 goals on the weekend, bringing her season total to 14.
• Freshman Michelle Urkov and redshirt senior Madi O'Hara each netted four goals.
• UCI finished second in the Big West last season with a 5-2 conference record and 15-13 overall.
• The 'Eaters recorded 413 goals in 28 games played in 2025, a new best in single season history.
• UC Irvine has posted a winning record for 20 straight seasons.
IN THE RANKINGS
UCI improved to 10th in the latest Collegiate Water Polo Association rankings released on February 11. The 'Eaters climb one spot after going 1-2 on the weekend.
SCOUTING THE TRITONS
No. 14 UC San Diego moved to 5-5 overall after falling to LMU, 8-9, on Feb. 7. The Tritons went 1-3 at the Triton Invitational, Jan. 30-Feb 1., and fell to the 'Eaters, 9-14, during the tournament. Junior Abigail Schechter leads the Tritons with 28 goals this season, followed by junior Emily Cloherty with 19. Senior Bria Zwaschka leads UC San Diego between the pipes with over 280 minutes logged, 91 saves, and 16 steals.
SERIES HISTORY
The 'Eaters defeated the Tritons, 14-9, on Feb. 1 at the Triton Invitational this season. In 2025, UC Irvine took the conference match up, 16-11, on Mar. 8, but fell to the Tritons at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, 11-12, on Feb. 22. UCI and UC San Diego clashed once in the 2024 season where the Tritons prevailed, 6-5, on Mar. 8. The Anteaters defeated UC San Diego twice in the 2023 season, first in their conference match up on Mar. 10, where the 'Eaters won 10-9, and again at the Big West Championship on April 29, where UCI triumphed, 12-6.
LAST TIME OUT
The 'Eaters fell to No. 1 Stanford, 6-15, in the opening game of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational on Feb. 13. Sophomore Deirdre Murphy netted two against the Cardinal, while junior Ella Walker recorded eight saves and two steals. UCI dropped to No. 5 Hawai'i, 6-11, on Feb. 14. Juniors Sara Naulty and Annabelle Mundelius each scored two goals against the Rainbow Wahine, while Walker recorded seven saves. The Anteaters defeated No. 7 Long Beach State in their final game of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, 15-13, on Feb. 15. Mundelius netted four goals against the Beach and Redshirt senior Madi O'Hara recorded three tallies.
ON THE ATTACK
The 'Eaters, who are averaging 10.8 goals per contest, have six players with at least ten goals on the season so far. Lauren Hett leads the way with 34 goals and seven hat tricks, while Madi O'Hara has 23 goals and four hat tricks. Junior Sara Naulty is the third leading scorer with 15 goals. Freshman Michelle Urkov and Junior Annabelle Mundelius ranks fourth in scoring with 14 goals each. Freshman Sydney Hagan joined the ten-goal club for the first time in her career with a total of 11 tallies.
MINDING THE NET
Junior Ella Walker has appeared in 10 of the 13 games this season for over 262 minutes in the cage. She has recorded 61 saves and six steals, with a season-high 12 saves against No. 2 UCLA (Feb. 7). Walker owns a 10.49 goals against average and a .415 save percentage. Freshman Annie Peak has appeared in six games, logging 110 minutes in net and tallying 17 saves and eight steals. Freshman CJ Sirls appeared in two ganes, logging 32 minutes with four saves and one steal. Sophomore Mayezie Loggins has appeared in two games for 17 minutes in net, recording two saves and one steal.
COLLEGIATE FIRSTS
Freshman Sydney Hagan quickly made an impact for the 'Eaters, scoring seven goals in her first weekend of collegiate competition. Her first goal came against San Jose State, where she tacked on two more for her first career hat trick on Jan. 17. She notched her second hat trick in her very next game against Fresno State. Chloe Patist netted her first career goal against No. 5 California on Jan. 18.
PRESEASON HONORS
Junior attacker Lauren Hett was named to the seven-member Preseason All-Big West Team as voted on by the conference's head coaches. Hett is coming of a 2025 campaign in which she led the 'Eaters with 67 goals and 97 points. Last year, she also earned a third-team All-America selection and an All-Big West First Team honor. Hett was also the first player in program history to be named to the watch list for the prestigious Peter J. Cutino award in 2025.
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
With recent rule changes promoting offense, the Anteaters recorded 413 goals in 28 games played in the 2025 season, a new best in single-season history. Last year's squad also averaged 14.8 goals per game, a new single-season record. The 2026 'Eaters aim to build on the offensive momentum generated last season.
NEW FACES, NEW ROLES
The 2026 roster features eight newcomers this season who look to make an immediate impact. The squad added two goalkeepers, Annie Peak and CJ Sirls, along with center Jess Reagan and defender Chloe Patist. The 'Eaters also welcomed four attackers: Sydney Hagan, Anya Frey, Michelle Urkov, and Marisol Cowles.
ALL-BIG WEST RETURNERS
The Anteaters return three All-Big West honorees from the 2025 squad. Lauren Hett was named to the first team, and Madi O'Hara garnered honorable mention distinction. Pippa Heaver was selected to the All-Big West Freshman Team in her rookie season
UP NEXT
The 'Eaters will continue their home stand as they continue Big West action on Friday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m., as they host No. 5 Hawai'i.
Players Mentioned
ATTACKER
/ Women's Water Polo
ATTACKER
/ Women's Water Polo
ATTACKER
/ Women's Water Polo
ATTACKER
/ Women's Water Polo
ATTACKER
/ Women's Water Polo
GOALKEEPER
/ Women's Water Polo
DEFENDER
/ Women's Water Polo
CENTER
/ Women's Water Polo
ATTACKER
/ Women's Water Polo
UTILITY
/ Women's Water Polo
DEFENDER
/ Women's Water Polo
GOALKEEPER
/ Women's Water Polo
CENTER
/ Women's Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Water Polo
ATTACKER
/ Women's Water Polo
GOALKEEPER
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