IRVINE, Calif. – No. 14 UCSB's four first half goals were not enough to upset No. 6 UC Irvine on Sunday, as the Anteaters used three unanswered goals in the third quarter to clinch the 8-5 decision in the team's Big West opener.

Bryn Hudson and Lauren Martin each finished with braces, while Miranda Schrader chipped in one goal, while Samantha Murphy helped orchestrate the offense with two assists. Hudson also paced the team with two steals, while Martin drew a team-high three ejections.

Mackenzie Brokaw was kept busy in the cage, as she recorded a season-high 16 saves and also picked up a steal. 

The Gauchos struck early in the game, as Martin registered the game's first goal just 25 seconds in. UC Irvine came back with two straight goals to momentarily take a 2-1 lead, but Miranda Schrader knotted the score before the break after capitalizing on a power play with 29 seconds to go.

UCSB went on to shutout the Anteaters 2-0 in the second quarter to grab a 4-2 halftime lead. First, Martin struck again in a 6-on-5 advantage at the 4:59 mark, as Hudson found the back of the cage for the first time with a goal just over a minute later.

Holding on to a two-goal lead heading into the second half, the Gauchos allowed three straight goals from the Anteaters, but Hudson was able to tie the score before the final quarter with a score at the 1:48 mark. The goal again came with the help of a 6-on-5 advantage, as the Gauchos scored four of its five goals on power plays. 

While the Gauchos battled the Anteaters through a contentious opening three quarters, the momentum swung in UC Irvine's direction in the fourth quarter as the team outscored UCSB 3-0.

UCSB will be back at Campus Pool next weekend to host UC Davis on Saturday at 12 p.m. and Hawai'i on Sunday starting at noon. Tickets for both games are available at the Ticketing Office in the Intercollegiate Athletics Building, over the phone at 805.893.UCSB (8272), or online here.