The No. 13 UCSB women’s water polo posted a 16-1 blowout victory over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps before defeating No. 16 Long Beach State, 7-6, on Saturday, the opening day of the Gaucho Spring Invite, being held at Campus Pool.
With the wins, UCSB improves to 9-5 on the season. The Gauchos have now won five straight games and the streak includes two victories over Big West Conference foe Long Beach State.
During the first game of the day against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, the Gauchos jumped on the board early with a pair of goals from Lizzie Rouleau within the first minute and a half of the game. UCSB poured on five more goals during the first quarter, including a hat trick from Gillian Morgan.
UCSB was held to just one goal – a six-on-five point from Amanda Tipton – during the second. In the third, Alisha Khan, Alyssa Rangel and Kristin Kulakowski each scored for the Gauchos while UCSB continued to keep the Athenas scoreless.
Jamie Moran and Kulakoski each posted two goals in the fourth for UCSB. CMS was finally able to get on the board with power play goal from Abigayle Lin four minutes into the final quarter. That would be it for the Athenas though, as UCSB captured the 16-1 victory.
Goalie Chelsea Carrillo tallied 10 saves in the win for UCSB.
Against Long Beach State, Meagan Leonard posted the first goal of the game just 20 seconds into the first quarter, but the Gauchos quickly responded and Jillian Waldron tied the game at 1-1 just 34 seconds later. UCSB took the lead just over a minute later with another goal from Waldron during a six-on-five opportunity.
Leonard tied the game back up with a six-on-five goal of her own with 2:41 to go in the quarter. With 1:34 on the clock in the first, Gillian Morgan scored during a 49er ejection to give UCSB a slight 3-2 advantage.
Early in the second quarter, Lizzie Rouleau and Kathryn Nelson tallied back-to-back goals, giving UCSB its biggest lead of the game at 5-2. The 49ers managed just one goal during the second and trailed 5-3 at halftime.
With 3:02 to go in the third quarter, Long Beach scored a man-up goal and cut the UCSB lead to one goal. Nelson’s second goal of the game at the beginning of the fourth gave UCSB a little room to breath, but with 5:05 on the clock Leonard tallied her third point of the game and once again put the 49ers within one. UCSB was able to hold on through the final five minutes and captured the 7-6 win.
Morgan, Nelson and Waldron led the team with two goals apiece while Kate Murphyposted 11 saves in the win.
UCSB’s Gaucho Spring Invite continues tomorrow at Campus Pool. The Gauchos will take on No. 19 UC San Diego at 11:45 a.m. and finish the tournament with a game against No. 6 San Diego State at 4:45 p.m. For complete results, schedules and ticket information for the Gaucho Spring Invite, click here.
UCSB 16, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 1
1 2 3 4 Final UCSB 7 1 3 5 16 CMS 0 0 0 1 1
UCSB Goals: Gillian Morgan 3, Kristin Kulakowski 3, Claire Buchanan 2, Lizzie Rouleau 2, Alisha Khan 2, Jamie Moran 2, Alyssa Rangel 1, Amanda Tipton 1.
UCSB Saves: Kate Murphy 1, Chelsea Carrillo 10.
CMS Goals: Abigayle Lin 1.
CMS Saves: Abigail Woodruff 3, Lanier Zimmer 4.
#13 UCSB 7, #16 Long Beach State 6
1 2 3 4 Final LBSU 2 1 2 1 6 UCSB 3 2 1 1 7
LBSU Goals: Meaghan Leonard 3, Cecilia Canetti 1, Keala O’Sullivan 1, Kelsie Emerick 1.
LBSU Saves: Kristen Stragier 8.
UCSB Goals: Gillian Morgan 2, Kathryn Nelson 2, Jillian Waldron 2, Lizzie Rouleau 1.
UCSB Saves: Kate Murphy 11.
