UCSB on fire, takes down Iona 13-7

No. 13 UC Santa Barbara (12-6) got its spring break week off to a great start on Monday afternoon as the Gauchos rolled to a 13-7 victory over visiting Iona (13-5) at Campus Pool. UCSB has now won eight of its last nine contests and is 6-1 in home games.
 
Senior Gillian Morgan got things rolling with the first goal of the game during a six-on-five opportunity just over a minute into the first quarter. Iona quickly fired back during the next possession with the first of three goals from Lauren Peterson. With 5:31 to play in the first, the Gauchos drew a five-meter penalty and Jillian Waldron scored on the penalty shot to regain the lead for UCSB.
A minute later, UCSB drew another ejection and this time it was Lizzie Rouleau who capitalized on the man-up situation, stretching the Gaucho advantage to 3-1. With 3:50 to go, Iona’s Mackenzie Mone cut the UCSB lead back to one goal, but that would be the final goal of the quarter for the Gaels as Morgan and Katie Kepner each added goals to put UCSB ahead 5-2.
 
The Gaels managed to outscore the Gauchos 2-1 in the second half with goals from Cecilia Leonard and Peterson to trail by just two at half.
 
UCSB came out of halftime on fire and posted three consecutive goals from Kepner, Morgan and Waldron to take a 9-4 lead. Iona’s Maggie Wood posted the lone Gael goal of the quarter with 1:50 on the clock before UCSB’s Kristin Kulakowski stretched the UCSB advantage to 10-5 with just three seconds to go in the third.
 
The Gauchos outscored Iona, 3-2, in the final quarter with goals from Kathryn Nelson, Katlin Kubas and Elle Quane to finish with the 13-7 victory.
 
Morgan once again led the team with three goals. She is now just three goals away from tying UCSB’s single season scoring record (61 goals). 
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Kate Murphy had eight saves and Chelsea Carrillo posted three in the final quarter. 
 
The Gauchos will host their inaugural Big West Conference opener on Saturday, Mar. 28 at Campus Pool against UC Davis. UCSB will play the Aggies at 12 p.m. and following the game will host its annual Alumni Game at 2 p.m. Admission is free.
 
UC Santa Barbara 13, Iona 7
            1-2-3-4-Final
Iona    2-2-1-2-7
UCSB 5-1-4-3-13

Iona Goals: Lauren Peterson 3, Amanda Brucia 1, Maggie Wood 1, Mackenzie Mone 1, Cecilia Leonard 1. 
Iona Goalie Saves: Kathleen Link 5.

UCSB Goals: Gillian Morgan 3, Katie Kepner 2, Jillian Waldron 2, Katlin Kubas 1, Claire Buchanan 1, Lizzie Rouleau 1, Kathryn Nelson 1, Kristin Kulakowski 1, Elle Quane 1.
UCSB Goalie Saves: Kate Murphy 8, Chelsea Carrillo 3.