IRVINE, Calif. - No. 10 UC Irvine women's water polo team defeated Concordia, 16-10, on Tuesday night at Anteater Aquatics Complex. 

UCI struck first in the first quarter, but the Golden Eagles quickly tied it up at 1-1. The 'Eaters netted four straight to take a 5-1 lead before CUI netted the final goal of the quarter, leaving UCI up 6-2 at the horn. The Anteaters outscored the Golden Eagles, 3-2, in the second to maintain their lead, 9-4, at the end of the half. Concordia outscored the 'Eaters 4-2 in the third frame to pull within three, 11-8, heading into the final period of action. UCI held CUI to just two goals in the final frame, while adding five of their own to seal the 16-10 victory. 

BY THE NUMBERS: Junior Sara Naulty and sophomore Deirdre Murphy led the 'Eaters with three goals each.

Pippa Heaver, Lauren Hett, and Chloe Patist each netted two goals. Madeline Kasper, Gabbie Graniello, Jess Reagan, and Vivian Bailey each added one tally.

Amber Lewis led the Golden Eagles with three goals. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: Lauren Hett found the back of the net on the 'Eaters first possession of the game (7:17), with help from Michelle Urkov. The Golden Eagles quickly evened it up, 1-1, on the next possession at the 6:51 mark. The Anteaters answered with four straight goals, kicked off with a tally from Sara Naulty, with an assist from Pippa Heaver, to give UCI a 2-1 lead at the 5:57 mark. Deirdre Murphy went back-to-back, with her first goal set up by Sydney Hagan on the power play (3:52) and her second coming with help from Hollis Munchoff at the 2:57 mark. Jess Reagan found the back of the net, set up by Vivian Bailey at the 1:35 mark to give UCI a commanding 5-1 lead. CUI got one back at the 1:09 mark before Chloe Patist netted the final goal of the first on the man advantage (0:32), with an assist from Hagan, to give the 'Eaters a 6-2 lead. 

Naulty found the back of the net, with help from Heaver, at the 7:04 mark to increase UCI's lead, 7-2. The Golden Eagles added a tally (6:31) before Heaver netted one, with an assist from Bailey, to boost the advantage, 8-3, at the 5:36 mark. Bailey netted one of her own, set up by Naulty at the 4:06 mark, increasing the lead to 9-3. CUI scored the final goal of the half (2:53) to leave UCI up, 9-4, at the horn. 

Patist kicked off the scoring in the third frame to increase UCI's lead, 10-4, at the 7:22 mark. Munchoff was whistled for an exclusion, which led to a power play goal for CUI at the 3:47 mark, cutting the lead, 10-5. Gabbie Graniello found the back of the net on the man advantage, set up by Urkov at the 3:16 mark, boosting the advantage, 11-5. The Golden Eagles netted three unanswered to end the third frame( 2:31, 1:41, 0:01), with the first coming on the power play after Hagan was whistled for an exclusion, cutting the Anteaters lead, 11-8. 

Heaver found the back of the net (7:40) before Hett added a tally on a five-meter attempt (6:48) to increase the 'Eaters lead, 13-8. Sara Naulty added a tally (6:13) before the Golden Eagles netted one of their own at the 4:04 mark. Deirdre Murphy netted her third of the game (2:23) before CUI scored the final goal of the match at the 0:49 mark, sealing UCI's 16-10 victory.

UP NEXT: The 'Eaters continue their home stand on Thursday, March 12 at 6 p.m. as they host Cal State Fullerton for a Big West match up at Anteater Aquatics Complex.