LOS ANGELES — No. 6 UC Santa Barbara (9-7, 0-2) endured a tough day as the team suffered two losses at the SoCal Tournament. Santa Barbara dropped a 9-4 decision to No. 8 UC San Diego (8-8) in the team’s first game at Spieker Aquatics Center today. In a back-and-forth match, UCSB fell just short against No. 7 Pacific (12-6, 0-1) in an 8-7 overtime loss.
Defeating San Diego at home earlier this season, the Gauchos looked to replicate the previous match in hopes of coming out on top once again. Both teams were held in check for the majority of the opening quarter as both teams were held scoreless. The Tritons got on the board first at the 3:00 minute mark of the first period. UCSB answered back less than a minute later with a quick strike from senior, Brendan McElroy.
Tied at 1-1, UCSB began to click offensively in the early moments of the second frame. Junior Liam Gaughan gave the Gauchos the lead off a 6:47 goal while Bryan Snyder kept the Gauchos rolling with a 5:38 power play goal to lead, 3-1. UCSD swung the momentum as the Tritons closed off the first half with three unanswered goals to take a close 4-3 lead.
Both defenses were playing stout defense in the first half of the third period as neither offense could break the scoring barrier. The Tritons ripped a 5:15 five meter penalty shot to take a 5-3 lead. After another goal by UCSD, the Gauchos got its fourth score of the match with a goal from freshman Josh Jordan.
Trailing 6-4, the Gauchos could not capitalize in the final period as the team was held without a goal. With three more scores from the Tritons, UCSB suffered a disappointing 9-4 loss the day’s opening match.
Matched up against seventh-ranked Pacific for the second time this season, the Gauchos aimed to once again defeat the Tigers. After an opening score from the Tigers, UCSB tied the game with a strike from freshman, Shane Hauschild. With two straight goals from junior Ryan Baliani, the Gauchos claimed 3-2 lead after the opening period.
Pacific took advantage on a power play to tie things up, but a second score from Hauschild helped the Gauchos reclaim the lead. Awarded a five meter penalty shot at the 2:30 mark of the second quarter, UCSB jumped ahead to a 5-3 lead as McElroy executed the penalty shot. The Tigers never backed down; scoring a 1:48 goal to trail, 5-4, at the half.
Scoring twice in the third period, the Tigers took the single goal lead. Hauschild recorded his hat trick, but more importantly tied the game at 6-6 in the final moments of the third quarter.
Baliani also secured a hat trick off a power play goal in the opening seconds of the final period. Leading 7-6, the Gauchos played great defense until the Tigers tied the match with a 1:10 score to force the match into overtime.
Unable to capitalize on its possessions, the Gauchos endured a tough time offensively. With a goal in the first overtime frame from Ben Stevenson, the Gauchos suffered a tough 8-7 loss to the Tigers.
Junior Ryan Baliani and freshman Shane Hauschild led the team in today’s action with three goals apiece. After recording 13 saves in yesterday’s action, junior goalkeeper Chris Whitelegge added 22 more blocks today’s two matches.
UCSD 9, UCSB 4
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| UCSD | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| UCSB | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
UCSD Goals: Matt Michalko (2) Josh Stiling (2) Lukas Syka (2) Chase Cockerill, Connor Watson, Joe Dietrich
UCSD Saves: Cameron Ravenbach (16)
UCSB Goals: Brendan McElroy, Bryan Snyder, Liam Gaughan, Josh Jordan
UCSB Saves: Chris Whitelegge (10)
Pacific 8, UCSB 7
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Final | |
| Pacific | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| UCSB | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
Pacific Goals: Krisztian Laczkovics (2) Ben Stevenson (2) J.T. Sarmento, Tim Reeves, Devon Thumwood, Simon Vogel
Pacific Saves: Chris Hughes (21)
UCSB Goals: Shane Hauschild (3) Ryan Baliani (3) Brendan McElroy
UCSB Saves:Chris Whitelegge (17)
