UCSB Gets First Test of the Season at #18 UC San Diego
Jan. 30, 2008  Santa Barbara, CA - The 3rd ranked Gauchos will get their first 2008 outing against someone beside themselves when they open up the season on the road at 18th ranked UC San Diego. It is a matchup featuring two top 20 teams. The Tritons finished last season 21st in the USL WDIA Coaches Poll with a 7-5 record but were voted 18th in the pre-season poll while UCSB finished the season ranked 3rd with an 18-7 record and was voted 3rd for the pre-season. The Gauchos won the meeting between the two teams last year with a 17-7 score. New coaches lead both programs this season. Lindsay Barton (Gettysburg College '05) has taken over for Katie Reigel at UCSD. Paul Ramsey has assumed the reigns at UCSB after Diana Garcia stepped down following four successful seasons as head coach of the Gauchos.
UCSB looks to be strong right out of the gate this season with nine starters returning to the 'A' Team, several players having moved up from last year's WWLL DII play-off 'B' Team and a handful of new faces rounding out the squad. Seniors Kristyn Gherardi, Kristen Dickey and junior Katie Moran will captain the team.
The UCSB 'B' Team also opens up at UC San Diego this weekend. Returning coach Andrea Poetzsch (UCSB '05) will lead this team for the second season. This opener is a scrimmage since UCSD 'B' wasn't formed in time for them to be part of the WWLL this spring. It might be a building process for the UCSB 'B' Team after their roster was raided by the 'A' Team but then it might not. Notable returners and an influx of talent from several parts of the country may get this group rolling quickly even though almost everyone is new to playing with each other. Katie Tibbs is back for this team after leading them with 24 goals in 2007 despite battling her way through an ankle injury almost the entire season. Amanda Lago will anchor the defense with her solid presence in goal after saving 52.7% last season.
The UCSB 'C' Team opens up on the road in San Diego as well. The 'C' Team faces the only team from University of San Diego in a scrimmage at UC San Diego at 12 Noon. The 'C' Team is a new part of the Gaucho program. It has to be noted that this is really a SBCC / Westmont / UCSB 'C' Team. UCSB efforts at developing lacrosse in the Santa Barbara area include getting women's lacrosse programs started at Santa Barbara City College and Westmont College. Players from all three of these schools will band together this year to play on one team. The plan is to use this combo team to build interest at the two schools and have separate programs at those schools in the near future. This works while the program is a provisional member of the WWLL. In order to move up to regular status in the league each of the teams will have to field a team of students who are full-time students at the institution they represent on the field. For now, though, the 'C' Team is a great developmental tool and it gives some students an opportunity to play when they might not otherwise have been able to do so this season. Stephanie Brenton (UCSB '06) is the first year coach of this inaugural program.
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