UCSB played hard but was ultimately edged out by a physical No. 8 Pacific team at Campus Pool on Sunday. Junior Brian Shoemaker had a hat trick for the Gauchos, who fought back from an early deficit and almost pulled out the victory.
It was the second one-goal loss of the weekend for UCSB, who lost to Cal 8-7 on Saturday.
Pacific took the lead early in the first quarter of the game. Brian Shoemaker’s goal with 4:14 remaining in the quarter tied the game at 1. The Tigers then scored the next three to take a 4-1 lead. But UCSB proved to be resilient, quickly scoring twice, including another by Shoemaker, to make it a 4-3 game going into the second period.
UCSB really dominated the second quarter on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the Gauchos shut out the Tigers, with junior goalkeeper Myles Christian having four saves in the period. Offensively, Derek Shoemaker, Jake Miller, and Jesse Gillespie all scored for UCSB in the period. Once Pacific went up 4-1 in the first quarter, UCSB scored five straight goals to take a 6-4 halftime lead.
Brian Shoemaker scored his third goal of the game to give the Gauchos a 7-4 lead with 3:44 remaining in the third quarter. Pacific scored to make it 7-5, and then was awarded a penalty shot with 25 seconds to play. Balazs Erdelyi scored the penalty shot to bring the Tigers within one. But on the other side of the pool, the Gauchos were awarded a penalty shot with just seven seconds left on the clock. Jesse Gillespie banged it home to put the Gauchos back up by two entering the fourth quarter.
Pacific got off to a fast start in the quarter, scoring three goals in the first four minutes. The Gauchos had some opportunities down the stretch to tie the game, but just couldn’t convert. UCSB had several man-up situations that Pacific defended well. Nick Tomasello’s shot in the final minute bounced off the crossbar to seal the win for Pacific in tight, compelling Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match.
The Gauchos host UC Irvine at Campus Pool next Saturday in their final home game of the season. UCSB falls to 14-9 overall and 2-4 in the MPSF.
PACIFIC 9, UCSB 8
UCSB 3 3 2 0 8
Pacific 4 0 2 3 9
UCSB Goals: B. Shoemaker 3, Gillespie 2, B. Shoemaker, J. Miller, Gaughan
UCSB Goalkeeper Saves: Christian 10
Pacific Goals: Erdelyi 3, Koning 2, Tomasevic, Doyle, Hazen, Szabo
Pacific Goalkeeper Saves: Malkis 6
