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UCSB Opens Shootout With Win

Box Score

Feb. 15, 2008

Santa Barbara, CA - UCSB opened Shootout play in a Friday evening game at Harder Stadium and came out on top of 2nd ranked Colorado State in a 12-10 overtime thriller. The Rams return 11 starters from last year, including two-time WDIA Goal Keeper of the Year Brooke Lewis (Denver, CO). All their reserves are back too with only one Colorado State player listed as a senior last year. The 3rd ranked Gauchos scored the first goal of the game on a Kelsey Seitz (San Diego, CA) feed from behind to senior Kristyn Gherardi (San Mateo, CA) 31 seconds into the game. The Rams then ran off 3 unanswered goals in the next 3 minutes and 3 seconds to take a 3-1 lead. Goals came a little bit harder after that for both teams but Colorado State had another string and led 7-4 up until the 7 minute mark. That was when senior Kristen Dickey (Davis, CA) put in her 2nd goal on a pass from junior Katie Moran (San Rafael, CA). At 3:32 remaining Dickey put a free position shot past senior goal keeper Brooke Lewis (Denver, CO) to make it 7-6 but Erin O'Brien found Colorado State teammate Kristen Kasney with 37 seconds to go in the half. That made half-time 8-6 in favor of Colorado State.

"We had to start chasing the game when we got behind early and that's a hard thing to do against a good team," said first year head coach Paul Ramsey. "Being in a hole can sometimes be insurmountable when facing a team with the speed and skill of Colorado State."

"Fortunately we have some speed and skill too. The pace both teams were setting out there was incredible and it was fun to watch."

UCSB stayed composed and didn't panic. The Gauchos turned up the defense a notch in the second half and climbed their way back into it. Senior Emily Ruby (Davis, CA) started UCSB off by assisting Dickey for her third goal. The senior captain finished with a game high six goals and an assist. She got her 4th on another free position shot and all of a sudden it was tied 8-8 3:53 into the second half.

Junior Megan Puckett (Poway, CA) was fouled on the way to goal and buried her shot at the 36:47 mark to give the Gauchos their first lead since the first minute of the game. Colorado State wasn't about to roll over and showed that by tying it up at 9's on a solo effort by senior captain Lindsay Brown (Colorado Springs, CO) with 20 minutes left. Another Dickey free position goal gave UCSB the lead again at 10-9 with 3:09 left but Colorado State midfielder Lisa Long assisted Kasney and it was 10-10. Chances by both teams were denied and the game went into a 6 minute overtime.

UCSB won the draw and transitioned onto offense to start the extra period. The Colorado State defense fouled Gherardi as she dodged in looking for a cutting teammate. The senior midfielder put in her chance 41 seconds into the extra inning in what proved to be the winning goal. A connection between Dickey and sophomore Maggie Aker (Oakland, CA) was the insurance goal for UCSB 3:25 into the overtime and provided the final 12-10 score. Freshman goal keeper Diane Clow (Poway, CA) had two key saves in the overtime period for UCSB.

The Gauchos outscored Colorado State 6-2 over the last 36 minutes of play and proved themselves adept at chasing the game. UCSB improved to 4-0 while Colorado State dropped to 0-1. Both teams continue play at the Shootout on Saturday in 2:00pm games. Colorado State faces 12th ranked Santa Clara and UCSB plays 4th ranked Brigham Young on the RecCen turf.