SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - No. 10 UC Irvine women's water polo team defeated UC Santa Barbara, 19-7, in a conference match on Friday night at Santa Barbara High School.

The 'Eaters jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before the Gauchos got on the board at the 5:26 mark. Each team added a tally before UCI netted the final two goals of the first frame to hold a 6-2 lead. The Anteaters outscored UCSB 5-1 in the second quarter to hold an 11-3 lead at the half. UCI added three in the third, while the Gauchos added two to maintain the 'Eaters lead, 14-5. The Anteaters dominated the final frame, outsourcing UCSB 5-2, to seal the 19-7 victory. 

BY THE NUMBERS: UCI had their highest scoring game of the season with 19 tallies, surpassing the 17 goals scored against UCSB on Jan. 30. Eleven different Anteaters got in on the season-high scoring. 

Junior Lauren Hett led the squad with four goals, while junior Hollis Munchoff recorded the hat trick. 

Pippa Heaver, Madeline Kasper, and Mary Hassett each added two tallies. Sara Naulty, Bella Calderon, Gabbie Graniello, Jess Reagan, Sydney Hagan, and Michelle Urkov each netted one. Freshman Annie Peak recorded six saves in net. 

Cami Mras led the Gauchos with two goals. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: Bella Calderon won the sprint and earned the first possession for the 'Eaters, setting up a goal for Hollis Munchoff, with help from Jess Reagan at the 7:39 mark. Munchoff set up Reagan for a goal of her own at the 6:59 mark. Lauren Hett got in on the scoring, with another assist from Munchoff, to give UCI an early 3-0 lead at the 6:18 mark. The 'Eaters were whistled for an exclusion on Reagan and goalie Annie Peak, leading to a power play goal for the Gauchos at the 5:26 mark. Munchoff recorded the takeaway before taking it all the way and finding the back of the net (4:25) to increase the lead, 4-1. The Gauchos got one back (4:11) before Pippa Heaver added a tally, with help from Annabelle Mundelius, to maintain the advantage, 5-2, at the 3:52 mark. Gabbie Graniello netted one at the 1:33 mark to leave the Anteaters up, 6-2, at the end of one. 

Madeline Kasper found the back of the net, with an assist from Chloe Patist, to boost the 'Eaters lead, 7-2, at the 5:38 mark. The Gauchos added a tally (4:05) before Charley Birdsall recorded a takeaway, setting up a goal for Hett at the 3:10 mark. Munchoff netted her third of the game (2:20) to increase UCI's lead, 9-3. UCSB turned the ball over, leading to another tally for Hett at the 2:00 mark. Calderon found the back of the net, with help from Hett, at the 1:15 mark to boost the advantage, 11-3, heading into the break. 

Michelle Urkov found the back of the net at the 7:24 mark to increase the 'Eaters lead, 12-3. Graniello was whistled for an exclusion, leading to a power play goal for the Gauchos at the 3:29 mark. Mary Hassett netted one (3:03), with help from Sydney Hagan, before Hagan added a tally of her own on a penalty shot (1:25) to pad UCI's advantage, 14-4. UCSB got one back before the horn to leave the Anteaters up 14-5 heading into the final frame. 

Hett netted her fourth of the game on a five-meter attempt at the 6:02 mark before the Gauchos got one back (5:37) to see the 'Eaters up 15-6. The Anteaters went on a 3-0 run, kicked off by a goal from Sara Naulty on the man advantage at the 5:20 mark. Heaver found the back of the net (4:36) before Hassett added a tally, with help from Kasper at the 2:47 mark to leave UCI up, 18-6. UCSB got one back before Kasper netted the final goal of the game to seal the 'Eaters victory, 19-7.

UP NEXT: The 'Eaters head to Claremont for the Convergence Tournament tomorrow, March 7, as they take on the hosts Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 9:45 a.m. before taking on No. 5 Arizona State at 1:30 p.m.