The Gauchos kicked off the Big West Conference Tournament on a beautiful afternoon in Davis, California. UCSB clinched a win against Pacific this evening at UC Davis Schaal Aquatics Center, 9-5.
The Gauchos took control in the first quarter, when they scored three unanswered goals by Pacific. Junior Kacey Creek put the first goal into the back of the Pacific net three minutes into the quarter. Sophomore Molly Hafferkamp followed up with a goal less than a minute later. Freshman Lauren Martin put the final goal of the quarter past the Pacific defense on a Gaucho exclusion. UCSB started out with a prominent lead, 3-0, at the end of the first quarter.
In the beginning of the second quarter, the Gauchos struck again as Martin scored her second goal of the game on a Pacific exclusion. Pacific scored their first goal of the game halfway through the second, but Gaucho junior Shelby Haroldson scored back-to-back goals shortly thereafter. The Tigers put one more past the Gaucho defense with 13 seconds left, but UCSB kept advancing its lead, 6-2.
The Tigers scored back-to-back goals in the beginning of the second half, less than two minutes into the third quarter. Shortly after, Martin scored her hat trick goal of the match. After one more goal scored by Pacific halfway through the quarter, Creek attacked the Pacific defense with her second goal of the game. UCSB kept pulling ahead 8-5.
Senior Katie Zakula scored the last goal of the match, and the Gauchos finish the first day of the Big West Conference Tournament with a win, 9-5.
UCSB will face UC Davis tomorrow at 4:15 at the UC Davis Schaal Aquatics Center. Win or lose, the Gauchos play on again on Sunday, April 29. Times will depends on results from tomorrow’s match.
UCSB vs. PACIFIC
UCSB… 3 3 2 1—9
PACIFIC… 0 2 3 0—5
UCSB Goals: Martin 3, Haroldson 2, Creek 2, Zakula 1, Hafferkamp 1
Pacific Goals: Pye 2, Adair 1, Martin 1, Kay 1
UCSB Saves: Milne 11
CSUN Saves: Harvey 12
