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UCSB Tops USC 14-7 In Opener

Box Score

Jan. 24, 2015

Los Angeles, CA - The Gauchos scored 7 goals in each half during their season opener with the club at USC and won 14-7. In a first for everyone the game was moved to another facility at halftime due to a double booking on Cromwell Field. The second half was played across campus at McAlister Field. A film crew won the battle to be on the turf at Cromwell at halftime of the game. The Gauchos were leading 7-2 at the time the decision was made by the Trojan administration to move the game.  UCSB held on during second half play on the grass at McAlister to get a WWLL Central Region win and start the season 1-0.

The Gauchos outshot USC 27-18 and 8 UCSB players scored in the contest. UCSB took a 10-3 lead six minutes into the second half when sophomore Echo Meyers (Laguna Niguel, CA) scored unassisted. After USC scored to make it 10-4 the Gauchos scored three unanswered goals to lead 13-4 with 15 minutes remaining. The nine goal lead was their biggest of the game. Junior Sydney Boral (Walnut Creek, CA) capped off the run with an unassisted goal on a dodge from the top in unsettled play. Junior Mari Cajandig (Davis, CA) and junior Madison Sabbag (Palo Alto, CA) were the other two Gauchos to scored in that three goal run. The Trojans won the last 12 minutes, however, outscoring UCSB 3-1 in that timeframe to get back to within seven goals. 

Kaitlyn Pike (Seaholm, MI) established a presence in front of the net for the Gauchos. The freshman goal keeper had 6 saves and only 2 goals against for 75%.  Junior Cailan Howey (Charlotte, NC) led the defense. The WCLA Defender Of The Year candidate had 8 ground balls, 3 caused turnovers and 2 draw controls. UCSB won 16 of 23 draw controls to get possession 69.6% of the time on the restarts. The Gauchos were successful 11 of 12 times clearing the ball out of the defensive end, getting it all the way into their offensive end, but coughed it up quite a few times more than average. UCSB turned the ball over 28 times, mostly in the offensive end. 

UCSB improved to 1-0 and plays next when they host Brigham Young University at 5:30pm on Friday, January 30th. USC dropped to 0-1 and plays next when they host the Cougars on Saturday, January 31st.