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UCLA Catches UCSB In 9-8 WCLA Consolation Game

Box Score

May. 6, 2016

Winston-Salem, NC - Both teams played hard but 6th ranked UCLA squeaked out a one goal win at BB&T Park in the WCLA National Tournament consolation side of the bracket. UCSB led 6-4 as the first half was winding down but the Bruins took advantage of a turnover and transitioned to score and pull within one goal, making it 6-5 at the intermission. Just before that the Gauchos had scored two unanswered goals less than two minutes apart that broke open a 4-4 game. The score by UCLA with twenty-three second left in the first half buoyed them for the second half and the Bruins outshot UCSB 14-6 on the way to outscoring the Gauchos 4-2 in the second half to get the 9-8 win.

Both teams traded goals or two goals throughout most of the game while enjoying only a one or two goal advantage for the entire first half and the first 19 minutes of the second half. At that time UCSB was leading 7-6 with 11 minutes to go but the Bruins ride againt the UCSB clear forced some turnovers and UCLA went on a three goal run to lead 9-7 with about four minutes remaining. The Gauchos pulled within striking distance when junior Meghana Vijayraghavan (Pleasanton, CA) scored unassisted with 1:52 left in the game but UCLA held them off down the stretch to get the one goal win. 

Freshman Rachael Shaw (San Ramon, CA) had a break out game taking the draw. The midfielder had six draw controls to herself and sent another six the way of Vijayraghavan. The two combined for 12 of their team's 15 draw controls. Shaw stymied normally dominant UCLA senior Sam Fletcher (Vienna, VA) on the center line. The Bruins rotated WCLA Player Of The Year Gretchen Kiep (Haddonfield, NJ) through center and Shaw took care of her as well. Senior Morgan Ryan (Salt Lake City, UT) had 10 saves against 9 goals allowed for 52.6% and also intercepted a pass from up top to an open cutter inside to deny the UCLA attacker the chance to shoot. 

UCSB, now 12-8 overall, faces local rival Cal Poly SLO in the last consolation game of the WCLA Tournament on Saturday at 8:00am. UCLA improved to 14-5 and faces Santa Clara at 10:30am.