SAN DIEGO – On day two of the Triton Invitational, No. 12 UCSB (9-4) recorded two wins over Cal State East Bay (3-5, 2-1), 9-2, and tournament host, No. 17 UC San Diego (6-4), 12-7, in two non-conference games.
The Gauchos started off the day at noon against the Pioneers. UCSB gave a solid team effort in the first half and recorded five goals, while holding Cal State East Bay to one.
UCSB netted another three goals in the third period and held the Pioneers to one goal, increasing the lead to six, 8-2. The Gauchos earned one more goal in the final period and closed out the game, 9-2.
Senior Kathryn Nelson led the way for the Gauchos scoring four goals in the game. Claire Buchanan and Christie Clark both scored two goals, and Rachel Nelson earned the last goal for the Gauchos.
Whitney Bell and Sarah Grunberger both recorded goals for the Pioneers.
The win put UCSB in position to claim ninth place in the tournament.
In game 28 of the tournament, the Gauchos faced off against tournament-host UC San Diego at 5:20.
UCSB came out firing on all cylinders and were up early, 3-1 thanks to two goals from Claire Buchanan and one from K. Nelson. With less than one minute left in the first period, both R. Nelson and Sienna Van Alphen netted goals for the Gauchos and increased the lead to four to end the first period, 5-1.
To start the second period, Clark recorded her seventh goal in the tournament and put UCSB ahead, 6-1.
The Tritons recorded back-to-back goals from Hanalei Crowell and Leah Gonzales before the half ended.
K. Nelson and Buchanan each scored a goal for the Gauchos to start the half before Felicia Orozco scored goal number four for the Tritons.
UCSB put the game out of reach with two more goals, one coming from Molly Hafferkamp and another from K. Nelson.
The 10-4 hole that UCSD was stuck in was too big for a comeback, and even though the Tritons scored three more times in the game, UCSB recorded two more goals to put their lead to five, 12-7. The victory improved the Gauchos’ record to 9-4.
Clark scored eight goals for the Gauchos over the two-day span. K. Nelson did not score a goal on the first day of play but did record four goals against Cal State Long Beach and a hat trick against UCSD.
Leading the defense on day two was sophomore Ruth Milne, who totaled 20 saves in the two games they played.
Game 20, 12:00 p.m.
Cal State East Bay vs. UC Santa Barbara
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |||||||||||
| CSUEB | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||
| UCSB | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
CSUEB Goals: Bell, Grunberger
UCSB Goals: K. Nelson 4, Buchanan 2, Clark 2, R. Nelson
Saves: Milne (UCSB): 11; Pekarske (CSUEB): 7
Game 28, 5:20 p.m. (9th Place)
UC San Diego vs. UC Santa Barbara
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |||||||||||
| UCSD | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | ||||||||||
| UCSB | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 12 |
UCSD Goals: Bartow 2, Gonzales 2, Crowell, McComas, Orozco
UCSB Goals: Buchanan 3, K. Nelson 3, Clark 2, R. Nelson 2, Creek, Hafferkamp
Saves: Milne (UCSB): 9; Ostosh (UCSD): 5; Taylor (UCSD): 2
