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LOS ANGELES -- Top-ranked UCLA (9-0) scored the most goals and had the largest margin of victory over the eighth-ranked UC Irvine Anteaters (4-5) since 2017 with a 16-5 win in its home opener on Saturday afternoon at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. With the win, UCLA improved to 35-0 all-time against the Anteaters.

UCLA had a total of 11 different players score in the contest, paced by the first hat trick of the season from sophomore attacker Taylor Smith. Graduate student Fiona Kuesis (tied career high), sophomore Lily Gess and freshman Panni Szegedi each scored two goals against UC Irvine.

Freshman Lauren Steele got the start in the cage and played the first three quarters, tallying nine saves and one assist while allowing three goals. Senior Sydney Chiang started the fourth quarter and played the first six minutes, registering two saves and an assist while giving up two scores. Freshman Joey Niz played the final two minutes of the game and made two stops and had a steal without surrendering a goal.

UC Irvine scored the first goal of the game off a penalty shot (7:15) in the first quarter. It would be the Anteaters' only lead of the game as UCLA would reel off four straight goals and never trail again. The Bruins led 2-1 at the end of the first and 6-3 at halftime. UCLA used a strong 5-0 mark in the third period to put the game out of reach, leading 11-3 heading into the fourth quarter. The Bruins dropped another five goals in the fourth to provide the 16-5 final.

UP NEXT: The Bruins will open MPSF play on Saturday, Feb. 17 at Noon when they host No. 7 Arizona State at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center.

No. 8 UC Irvine at No. 1 UCLA (Home Opener - Game 9)

SCOREBOARD	1	2	3	4	FINAL
No. 10 UC Irvine	1	2	0	2	5
No. 3 UCLA	2	4	5	5	16

6x5 - UCLA - 5/12 - UCI - 2/10
Penalties - UCLA - 1/1 - UCI - 1/2

UCI Goals: Maja Layden 2, Gracie Helberg 1, Lauren Hett 1, Annabelle Mundelius 1
UCI Saves: Faith Tedesco 4

UCLA Goals: Taylor Smith 3, Fiona Kuesis 2, Lily Gess 2, Panni Szegedi 2, Hannah Palmer 1, Brooke Doten 1, Anneliese Miller 1, Malia Allen 1, Genoa Rossi 1, Anna Pearson 1, Nicole Struss 1
UCLA Saves: Lauren Steele 9, Sydney Chiang 2, Joey Niz 2