DAVIS, Calif. — The UC Davis women's water polo team was eliminated from the 2024 Big West Championship following a loss to No. 2 seed UC Irvine in the quarterfinal round, 9-6. The Aggies conclude their 2024 season 2-6 in the Big West conference, and 10-18 overall.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Gianna Nocetti received a cross-pool pass from Tess Fundter and slotted in a goal to begin the scoring. The UC Davis advantage didn't last long, as the Anteaters leveled the game on the following possession. Liberty Massman squeezed a goal by the UC Irvine goalie, but Irvine found the back of the net to respond and tie the game at two at the end of the first period.
The second quarter was all UC Irvine, as the Anteaters established a permanent lead with three goals before the Aggies could muster a rebuttal. Nocetti lobbed in her second goal to send the Aggies into the half trailing 5-3.
Both sides traded goals in the third quarter, with Grace Pelkey and Massman scoring. Irvine regained their three-goal lead early in the fourth quarter, and put in another to seal the contest after a Chelsea Johnson score.
Nellie McAdams finished with 10 saves and a steal, while Pelkey finished with a goal, an assist, three steals, three exclusions drawn and a field block.
