No. 13 UCSB fought back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the score in its Big West women’s water polo game against visiting Pacific, but the Tigers scored a goal with 1:25 remaining in the fourth period to earn a 4-3 win on Sunday at Campus Pool.
Trailing 3-0, the Gauchos got on the scoreboard with just 47.4 seconds to play in the first half on a goal by sophomore Alisha Khan. Sophomore Claire Buchanan scored a pair of goals in the second half, the first coming with 3:40 left in the third quarter and the second, which tied the game, coming with 4:54 to play in the fourth quarter.
The score remained 3-3 until there was just 1:25 left in the contest. Pacific’s Allison Kosich, with her back to the goal, backhanded a shot that went in, just to the right of Gaucho goalkeeper Chelsea Carrillo. Kosich’s goal came just before the shot clock would have expired.
Dara Tawarahara scored a pair of first half goals for the Tigers, the second giving them a 3-0 advantage with 5:29 to go in the second quarter. Katherine Biehle also scored for the visitors.
Pacific goalkeeper Lindsey Pengilly, a freshman, had nine saves. Pengilly’s final save came as time ran out when she blocked a shot by Khan. Carrillo had four saves for UCSB.
With the loss, the Gauchos fall to 12-8 overall and 0-2 in the Big West. Pacific improves to 8-18 overall, 1-1 in league.
Sunday’s game was UCSB’s home finale for the season. It marked the final home appearance for three seniors – Gillian Morgan, Kaitlin Kubas, and Amanda Tipton. The Gauchos return to the pool when they travel to Cal State Northridge on Saturday, April 4. That contest will begin at noon. Also on Saturday, April 4, Santa Barbara will take-on Cal Baptist in a 4:00 p.m. non-conference match at Cal State Northridge.
PACIFIC 4, UCSB 3
1 2 3 4 T Pacific 1 2 0 1 4 UCSB 0 1 1 1 3 Pacific Goals: Kara Tawarahara 2, Katherine Biehle, Allison Kosich. Pacific Goalie Saves: Lindsey Pengilly 9 UCSB Goals: Claire Buchanan 2, Alisha Khan.
