Box Score: UCI 21, CSUEB 4 - F
Box Score: UCD 12, CSUEB 5 - F

LA JOLLA, Calif. – Cal State East Bay women's water polo suffered a pair of defeats to top-15 nationally ranked opponents on Saturday at the Triton Invitational hosted by UC San Diego. The Pioneers fell 21-4 to No. 5 UC Irvine to open the two-day tournament, and suffered a 12-5 setback to No. 15 UC Davis.

Website: Triton Invitational

The eager Anteaters (8-2) were looking forward to returning to competition entering the weekend following their only two defeats of the season. UC Irvine jumped out early scoring five unanswered goals to open the day.

Sara Hudyn ended the Pioneers scoring drought and putting them on the scoreboard late in the first quarter after converting a penalty shot. She would score three first half goals including the final tally of the first half as East Bay trailed by only five, 8-3.

UC Irvine restarted its offensive assault out of halftime scoring 13 second half goals including seven in the third quarter. Danielle Warde scored three of her game-high four goals in the third period. Teammate Michaela Pierandozzi matched the effort with a first quarter hat trick and four scores overall.

Ka'iliponi McGee helped the Pioneers cash in on a 6-on-5 opportunity with her first goal as a Pioneer. It was the only player advantage chance that resulted in a goal as East Bay finished 1-for-8 for the game.

Cal State East Bay trailed No. 15 UC Davis 4-3 in the waning seconds of the opening period. The Aggies earned and converted a penalty shot with one tick left on the clock pushing their cushion to 5-3. It was the first of four straight scores that helped UC Davis (3-5) pull away for good.

Hudyn has led the Pioneers in scoring all four games this season and poured in three more goals against the Aggies. She has scored multiple goals in every contest and at least three in 3-of-4 this season.

Taylor Cross put away two goals and is now the team's second leading scorer this season with four scores. No statistical information was available for goalkeepers at the time of release.

Cal State East Bay (1-3) will face Marist (2-2) on Sunday, Feb. 9, at 9:20 a.m. The Pioneers will either Sonoma State or Hartwick in the afternoon to close out the event.