DAVIS – Coming off of a narrow overtime loss to host UC Davis on Saturday night, the UC Santa Barbara women’s water polo team dropped another heartbreaker to Cal State Northridge, 6-5, in the Big West Conference Tournament third-place game on Sunday afternoon at Schaal Aquatics Center.
The game was a seesaw battle throughout with Northridge grabbing the initial lead just over a minute into the game with a six-on-five goal by Melissa Doll. With 5:34 to go in the quarter, Molly Hafferkamp scored her fourth goal of the tournament to tie the game at one-all.
UCSB grabbed the lead in the second quarter with the first of Claryann Olofsson-Loo’s two goals during the stanza. Northridge returned the favor, once again knotting the game, but Olofsson-Loo scored again with 3:15 left in the half to give the Gauchos a 3-2 lead.
The advantage was short lived as the Matadors tied things back up with 1:55 on the clock and then took a 4-3 lead with 39 seconds remaining in the half.
Northridge pushed its lead to two goals six minutes into the third quarter, but the Gauchos got consecutive goals from Kacey Creek and Shelby Haroldson to tie the game at 5-5 heading into the final frame.
Just a minute into the fourth quarter, UCSB drew a five-meter penalty, but the shot sailed wide, leaving the score deadlocked. With 3:45 to go, Kelcie Ferreira scored an even-strength goal to put CSUN ahead, 6-5.
The Gauchos took two timeouts in the last minute of the game, but were unable to post an equalizer. Matador goalkeeper Dana Harvey knocked down Haroldson’s weak-side shot with three seconds remaining as Northridge held on for the 6-5 win.
UCSB out-shot the Matadors, 31-25, in the pairing. Ruth Milne finished the game with seven saves.
The Gauchos finished the season with an overall record of 20-15.
Cal State Northridge 6, UCSB 5
CSUN 1 3 1 1 – 6
UCSB 1 2 2 0 – 5
Northridge Goals: Kelcie Ferreira, Lindsey Nelson, Marissa Young, Molly Henehan, Katie Kramer, Melissa Doll.
UC Davis Saves: Dana Harvey 9UCSB Goals: Claryann Olofsson-Loo 2, Molly Hafferkamp, Kacey Creek, Shelby Haroldson.
UCSB Saves: Ruth Milne 7
