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Sixth Ranked UCLA Beats UCSB 16-12

Box Score

Mar. 8, 2014

Santa Barbara, CA - UCLA jumped out to a 4-0 lead and won by four goals in a WWLL Central Division game at 7th ranked UCSB. It is the first Bruin win in the series since 2004. That year a 12th ranked UCLA squad upset 5th ranked UCSB 10-7 in the semifinals of the WWLL Championship Tournament. In this contest the 6th ranked UCLA team started the game fast with four draw controls and four goals. Throughout the game the Bruins did not hesitate on offense and attacked constantly to get a 16-12 win.

The result creates a possible tie standings scenario for first place in the division. Cal Poly SLO is the other team in the tie scenario, having beaten unranked USC 17-12 today, if UCLA beats USC on April 12th. Cal Poly beat UCLA 14-13 on February 8th, UCSB beat Cal Poly 12-9 on February 28th and now UCLA has beaten UCSB 16-12 on March 8th. Only the USC at UCLA crosstown rivalry game on April 12th remains for central division games.

UCLA had a 9-4 lead at halftime and UCSB outscored them 8-7 in the second half for the final 16-12 score. The Gauchos pulled to within three goals at 7-10 on an unassisted goal by sophomore Claudia Hammerschmidt (Armonk, NY) with 22 minutes left in the game. The Bruins responded with a six goal run that put them up 16-7. UCLA owned the draw controls. Overall they took 19 of the 30 draws in the game but in the first half they owned that ball 11 of 14 times. The momentum they gained from those possessions fueled them throughout the game. UCSB was playing catch-up the entire time as a result. In the second half draw controls were tied at eight apiece for each team.

"We responded to the UCLA intensity with some of our own but it was a response to their level instead of us setting our own level," says UCSB Head Coach Paul Ramsey.

UCLA outshot UCSB 35-29 but it was in the first half with the Bruins outshooting the Gauchos 17-9 that UCLA established themselves and set their own tempo to control momentum. UCSB had shown improvement in two specific areas in games leading up to this one and those were 8 meter shooting and draw controls. Converting their 8 meter free position shots was one factor that won UCSB the game at then 6th ranked Cal Poly SLO.  The Gauchos were 9 for 15 (60%) against the Mustangs but were 2 for 10 against the Bruins. 

"If we shoot sixty percent on 8 meters against UCLA we get that game into overtime," added Ramsey, "and have a chance to steal it away from them just with that one facet of the game even though it appeared they outplayed us most of the game."

"Never mind if we even get just 4 more draw controls to go along with better shooting and then there's a chance to win it in regulation."

Down a bunch but with 12 minutes remaining UCSB went to reserve Claire Wilson (Healdsburg, CA) for some offense. The freshman responded by going to goal and getting fouled. Wilson scored on her free position and scored two more times in a Gaucho run of 5 unanswered goals. Junior Lindsay Alex (Tustin, CA) assisted senior Blair Evans (Salinas, CA) for the next goal, Wilson scored unassisted again, sophomore Kelsey Trepa (San Marcos, CA) scored unassisted and then Wilson scored unassisted again. The five goal run took 9 minutes and 30 seconds. During that run UCSB goalie Megan Hughes (Santa Ana, CA) had three of her 16 saves and the Gauchos defense broke an eventual Bruins stall twice. Unfortunately the slow start for UCSB put them chasing the game for too long.

UCSB dropped to 5-4, 2-1 while UCLA improved to 9-1, 1-1. The Gauchos host the 15th ranked club from San Diego State in their next game. That contest will be played on Friday at 3:00pm in UCSB Harder Stadium. UCLA hosts San Diego State on Saturday in a 10:00am game.

The UCSB 'B' Team also hosted their UCLA counterparts and upset them 13-9, reversing a previous outcome earlier this season. In the first contest division leader UCLA 'B', 4-1 in the B Divsion coming into this game, won 10-8. Teams in the B Division play a double round robin and the top four teams qualify for the post-season.