LA JOLLA – Eighth-ranked UCSB snapped a three-game losing skid on Friday evening when they picked-up a 9-7 victory over No. 11 UC San Diego at the Coggan Family Aquatic Center.
With the win, UCSB improves to 9-6 on the season while UCSD drops to 9-10 overall.
For the Gauchos, the first quarter made all the difference as they jumped out to a 4-2 lead and never looked back.
Just 40 seconds into the game, junior Milos Golic scored as the teams became even during a six-on-five opportunity to give UCSB an early lead. Less than a minute later, sophomore Noah Smith tallied the first of his two goals during the contest to push the Gaucho lead to 2-0.
The Tritons cut their disadvantage back to one goal when Steven Donohoe scored on a five-meter penalty shot with 6:08 to go in the period. Freshman Brian Shoemaker responded with a Gaucho goal just over a minute later, pushing the UCSB lead back to two goals.
Donohoe scored his second goal of the game with four minutes to go, but senior Sean Castillo closed out the quarter with power play goal for the Gauchos, giving UCSB a 4-2 advantage heading into the second quarter.
The two teams matched each other goal-for-goal in each of the remaining quarters.
With 4:10 remaining in the fourth quarter, Peter Gresham scored his second goal of the period to cut the UCSB lead to just one goal at 8-7. UCSB once again distanced itself with a power play goal from Golic with 2:46 to go, sealing the lead and the win with a final score of 9-7.
“We played a very good game,” said head coach Wolf Wigo. “We worked on a few things during the week and executed them well in the game today. We are looking forward to tomorrow’s game with Irvine.”
Golic, Smith and Castillo each tallied a pair of goals in the win for UCSB. Junior goalkeeper Fraser Bunn posted 13 saves in the victory.
UCSB will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to No. 9 UC Irvine for a non-conference pairing with the Anteaters at noon.
UCSB 9, UCSD 7
UCSB 4 1 2 2 – 9
UCSD 2 1 2 2 – 7
UCSB Goals: Noah Smith 2, Sean Castillo 2, Milos Golic 2, Brian Shoemaker, Zsombor Vincze, Joe Plume.
UCSB Saves: Fraser Bunn 13.
UCSD Goals: Ryan Allreg 2, Steven Donohoe 2, Peter Gresham 2, Sean Roberts.
