No. 12 UCSB (16-9, 2-1) fell to No. 10 Cal State Northridge (23-6, 3-0), 7-6, after CSUN rebounded in the final minute of the game. UCSB went on to defeat No. 19 Cal Baptist (19-16), 8-6, Saturday evening, at Campus Pool.
In the opening game of the day, it was clear that the Big West Conference lead was on the line, as each team came out with tremendous intensity. The Matadors got on the board first, but were matched by UCSB’s Katie Kepner, just 17 seconds later. Each team scored once more in the quarter, leaving the score at 2-2 after the first. In the second quarter, UCSB outscored CSUN 2-1, giving the Gauchos a one-point lead at half.
After the half, it was clear both teams’ defenses had tightened down. Neither team allowed a goal, until Northridge was able to tie the score on a penalty shot, 5:44 into the third quarter. Then, eight seconds before the final break, Elle Quane found the back of the net, putting the Gauchos ahead, 4-3, going into the fourth.
In the deciding quarter, the Matadors evened the score midway through the period. The Gauchos answered, retaking the lead on a Michelle Beaudreau goal, with 1:26 left in the match. However, CSUN responded yet again, notching a goal 32 seconds later.
Just as it appeared as though the game was headed for extra periods, CSUN found an open break down the pool. Katie Kepner committed a penalty to stop the attack on the goal, leaving 20 seconds on the clock, and giving Northridge a penalty shot. The Matadors scored on the shot, edging past the Gauchos, 7-6, in a hard fought battle.
The Guachos’ second game of the day, against Cal Baptist, was a much more one-sided affair. Although UCSB trailed, 1-2, after the first, the Gauchos outscored the Lancers 4-0 in the second quarter.
n the latter half of the game, Cal Baptist outscored UCSB, 4-3, but was never able to cut the Gaucho lead to less than two points. Senior Lizzie Rouleau scored a hat-trick in the 8-6 Gaucho victory.
UCSB will be back in action next weekend, when they close out the 2010 regular season on the road. The Gauchos will play UC Davis on Saturday, before traveling to Stockton, to face Pacific on Sunday.
Northridge 7, UCSB 6
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |||||||||||
| UCSB | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||
| CSUN | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
UCSB Goals: Michelle Beaudreau, Katie Kepner, Kathryn Nelson, Nancy Ruano, Elle Quane, Nancy Ruano
UCSB Saves: Ruth Milne 11
CSUN Goals: Whitney Delgado 3, Chelsea Curran, Sydney Sodona, Heidi Pettinger, Kristen McLaughlin
CSUN Saves: Jillian Stapf 8
UCSB 8, Cal Baptist 6
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |||||||||||
| UCSB | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 8 | ||||||||||
| Cal Baptist | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
UCSB Goals: Lizzie Rouleau 3, Shelby Haroldson 2, Kathryn Nelson, Christie Clark, Selina Rivera
UCSB Saves: Ruth Milne 6
Cal Baptist Goals: Chelsea Gentry 3, Collette Brown 2, Lauren Burnett
Cal Baptist Saves: Camryn Rogers 6
