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Santa Clara squeaks by #2 UC Santa Barbara

Box Score

Mar. 7, 2010

Santa Clara jumped in their cars early Saturday morning and headed south to Santa Barbara for their longest one-day road trip of the season.  The Broncos returned home late Saturday night with a narrow 12-11 victory over the #2 ranked UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. 

The Broncos took an early 1-0 lead on a goal by freshman Maggie Burke (4g/0a).  Santa Barbara would answer back with three straight goals of their own to take an early 3-1 lead after just 9:35 into the match.  The Gauchos made good use out of Santa Clara's mistakes on defense and poor shot selection to maintain their lead throughout most of the first half.  Every time the Broncos would score to close the lead to one goal the Gauchos would extend it back to two shortly thereafter.  Approaching halftime, Santa Barbara scored with 1:19 remaining to take a 6-4 lead.  The ensuing draw was won by the Broncos who controlled the ball for the final shot of the half.  The Broncos settled up and ran a quick 10-second play which scored with 15 seconds remaining in the half and narrowed the gap to 6-5 in favor of the Gauchos.

Santa Clara opened the second half scoring the first two goals of the half on goals by junior Gracie Binder (2g/2a) and junior Kayla Ushman (2g/0a).  Both teams again traded possessions throughout the second half with both goal keepers making excellent saves to keep each team in the game.  Santa Barbara ultimately tied the game at 10-10 with 14:26 remaining on a free-position shot by junior Ashley Antoon-Algieri (3g/0a).  Senior Krista Shaw (4g/1a) would score on an unassisted drive to make it 11-10 in favor of Santa Clara with 13:54 remaining.  The score remained at 11-10 until 4:55 left when Ushman scored her second of the game which proved to be the game winner.  The Gauchos would work to regain the lead on offense but junior goalie Renee Eligio made a great save with a little under two minutes left that give Santa Clara a chance to clear the ball to the offensive side of the field and kill the game.  The Broncos failed in their attempt to clear the ball because of unforced turnover gave the Gauchos the ball back.  Gaucho senior Maggie Aker (2g/2a) then put one past Eligio on a great off-stick shot that closed the Bronco lead to one with 1:00 remaining.  The Gauchos won the ensuing draw and had one possession to tie the game but the Broncos would regain control of the ball and walk away with a 12-11 victory on the road. 

The Broncos will come home to Santa Clara and face Chico State in their first official home game of the season this Saturday at 11:00 AM.

Santa Barbara moves on to play rival UCLA this Friday night.

Lax Magazine/UCSB write-up

Photos: UCSB v Santa Clara