For the third consecutive day, the No. 12 UCSB women’s water polo team split a pair of games at home. The Gauchos (6-3) defeated No. 18 UC San Diego (2-2), 8-7, before falling to No. 10 UC Irvine (3-1), 9-5, in the final game of the UCSB Winter Invite on Sunday.
The Gauchos went 3-3 during the busy home weekend and went 2-2 during Saturday and Sunday’s tournament. No. 7 Michigan swept its tournament games, going 4-0 during round robin play and 6-0 during its trip to Santa Barbara. UC Irvine and San Diego State also had successful weekends, each opening their seasons with 3-1 records.
For complete results from the UCSB Winter Invite, CLICK HERE
UCSB opened its game with UC San Diego in strong form as Claire Buchanan rattled off consecutive goals to give the Gauchos a 2-0 lead less than three minutes in. UCSD responded with two goals of its own from Kristen Bates and Jessica Tran to tie the game. With just 39 seconds to go in the first quarter, Christie Clark scored the first of her three goals to regain the Gaucho lead.
The second quarter was a defensive battle and it wasn’t until there was just 1:27 remaining in the half that a goal was tallied. UCSD drew a five-meter penalty and the shot was converted by Hanalei Crowell, tying the game at three-all.
After being held scoreless through the second quarter, UCSB jumped out to a two-goal lead behind shots from Clark and Shelby Haroldson in the first two minutes of the third. Clark’s third goal of the game with 5:24 to go in the period gave UCSB its biggest lead of the contest at 6-3. The teams exchanged a pair of goals to end the quarter and UCSB remained ahead, 8-5, heading into the fourth.
UCSD was back within two goals early in the fourth after Crowell netted her second goal of the game. Then, with just 21 seconds remaining, Felicia Orozoco cut the UCSB lead to just one goal. With one possession left on the clock, UCSB just needed to hold onto the ball to secure the victory. UCSD was able to steal the ball, however, and call a time out with nine seconds to go. The Gaucho defense was able to thwart the Tritons’ last minute play and post the 8-7 victory.
UCSB wasn’t so lucky in its second game of the day and sixth game in three days. UC Irvine got up early with a five-meter penalty goal just 20 seconds into the game and a strike from Danielle Warde just over a minute later. With 12 seconds to go in the first, Warde scored the second of her five goals during a six-on-five to give the Anteaters a 3-0 lead.
Warde struck again in the first 22 seconds of the second quarter before UCSB’s Kathryn Nelson and Kilee Dreyer tallied consecutive goals to get the Gauchos on the board. The teams traded goals late in the half to enter the break with Irvine ahead, 5-3.
Warde continued her dominance in the third, scoring two of the Anteaters’ three goals during the stanza. UCSB got a goal from Haroldson and another from Nelson and trailed by three heading into the fourth.
Caitlin Haskell continued UC Irvine’s trend of scoring during the first possession at the top of the fourth quarter and hers would be the final goal of the day as the Anteaters held on for the 9-5 victory.
UCSB will take next week off before returning to action on Feb. 12-13 at the Triton Invitational being hosted by UC San Diego.
UCSB 8, UCSD 7
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – Final
UCSD 2 – 1 – 2 – 7 – 7
UCSB 3 – 0 – 5 – 0 – 8
UCSD Goals: Kristen Bates 2, Felicia Orozco 2, Hanalei Crowell 2, Jessica Tran.
UCSD Saves: Kristen Ostsosh 6.
UCSB Goals: Christie Clark 3, Claire Buchanan 2, Shelby Haroldson, Kristin Kulakowski, Kathryn Nelson.
UCSB Saves: Ruth Milne 13.
UC Irvine 9, UCSB 5
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – Final
UCI 3 – 2 – 3 – 1 – 9
UCSB 0 – 3 – 2 – 0 – 5
UC Irvine Goals: Danielle Warde 5, Caitlin Haskell 2, Olivia Cummins, Jessy Cardey.
UC Irvine Saves: Lauren Davis 1, Katie Avetoom 4.
UCSB Goals: Kathryn Nelson 2, Shelby Haroldson, Kilee Dreyer, Nancy Ruano.
UCSB Saves: Ruth Milne 6.
