MALIBU – Another win and a loss on Day Two of the SoCal Tournament put the Gauchos in sixth place, a big improvement from last year’s performance in the tournament. The UCSB team was victorious over Long Beach State in a 12-6 decision, but fell to Pacific in a 12-5 loss.
Shane Hauschild and Nick Jordan concluded the tournament with a total of six goals each. Chris Whitelegge totaled 28 saves for the day, 15 against Long Beach State and 13 against Pacific.
LONG BEACH STATE
UCSB opened up their second day in Malibu with a win against Long Beach State, 12-6. They had a slow start in the first quarter, letting Long Beach carry the momentum briefly. Nick Jordan and Anthony Buljan racked up goals for the Gauchos.
Mitch Hamilton got things rolling for Santa Barbara with a goal in the first few minutes of the game. Derek Shoemaker gave the Gauchos the lead at the half with a successful penalty shot.
Shane Hauschild opened up the second half of the game with a goal in the first Gaucho possession. Shoemaker followed with his second goal of the game off a power play. The 49ers responded with a power play goal of their own, but Spencer Likens would come in shortly after with a goal to keep the three-point lead.
Hauschild scored another goal off a 49er ejection, but a successful penalty shot from Long Beach would keep the three point score gap going in to the final quarter.
Buljan had a powerful goal in the first possession of the fourth quarter to put the Gauchos up 9-5. The 49ers would go on to score one more goal, but three unanswered goals from Reed Cotterill, Hauschild, and Samer Alkateb would leave the game at 12-6, Gauchos.
UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC
Senior 2-meters Nick Jordan kicked off the game with a goal out of set in the first possession. Gaucho defense would hold off the Tigers for the remainder of the first quarter.
Pacific would gain momentum in the second quarter, delivering three unanswered goals to go up 3-1. Reed Cotterill broke their streak with a goal to close the gap. Jordan would score again, but the Tigers would add two more goals to bring the score to 6-3 at the half.
Cotterill opened up the third quarter with his second goal coming from a 6-on-5 play. The Tigers followed suit with two goals off Gaucho ejections, extending their lead. Derek Shoemaker snuck in a goal, but not before Pacific scored again, giving them a four point lead going in to the final quarter.
The Gaucho defense shut down in the fourth quarter, allowing three unanswered goals to finish the game 12-5, Pacific.
