Gauchos Go 2-1 at OC Play-Day
Oct. 26, 2008  Newport Coast, CA - The UCSB Fall Ball Squad won two and lost one at the inaugural OC Play-Day at Newport Ridge Park. Family Weekend at UCSB and the extraction of two wisdom teeth for one player left the Gauchos short-handed on experience with five 'A' Team candidates not traveling. Their absence, coupled with seven Gauchos being abroad for the Fall, opened up playing time for a mix of eager UCSB players who made the short drive to Orange County to play some lacrosse. Two returning 'A' Team starters, Ashley Antoon-Algieri and Katie Moran, made the trip. The rest of the Gauchos were out to prove themselves and have fun doing it.
The play-day consisted of three 40 minute scrimmages for each of the four teams participating. The day started for four Gauchos when they were borrowed by a short-handed Tricheck team for the first game of the day. The request came almost as UCSB players were climbing out of their vans to get ready to warm up for the game afterward. The four Gauchos played all 40 minutes and contributed to a Tricheck win over Team OC. Then the tournament started for real for UCSB as they played the first game on their schedule. The Gauchos fielded a frosh/soph team for the UC Irvine scrimmage, including two rookies starting and playing in their first lacrosse game. The fresh faces were quick to set the pace against UC Irvine in a 10-3 success. In the first 20 minute half the Gauchos led 5-1 at half-time.
"It was nice to see the rookies experience success together," said head coach Paul Ramsey. "It's a strong class so that success wasn't unexpected but for them to experience it was good."
The pace quickened when a group made up of UCSB veterans and some of the rookies took the field to face Team OC. The Gauchos led 8-4 at half-time with some nice transition play and some assisted goals. Team OC is a high school select team representing the best of Orange County. It trains together throughout the year except during the C.I.F. season and it includes at least three known NCAA Division One early signees. A fired up Team OC came out strong in the second half at the same time the Gauchos started subbing liberally. Team OC pulled to within striking distance but UCSB held on for a 12-11 win.
"Some would say going into that situation at less than full strength is bad scheduling," commented Ramsey. "However, I think missing multiple starters and still being competitive playing with a whole bunch of new faces is a good thing."
Ramsey thought Melissa Humphreys (Coronado / UC Berkeley ) gave Team OC an advantage on the draw while Anna Maria Carabini (St. Margaret's / St. Mary's ) controlled play and possession on the attacking end. Francie Crowell (Los Alamitos / Notre Dame ) kept working her way inside on dodges to both score goals and assist while she was on the move.
He says they weren't the only three on the field who can play ball either. "There were a bunch of other good players on that team, too, in addition to the three we know have signed early," said Ramsey.
At the end of the day UCSB faced a Tricheck team the Gauchos had beaten 18-11 last week but this time around Tricheck picked up the previously mentioned Carabini, Crowell and Humphreys to supplement their roster. UCSB seemed in control for most of the first stanza but then the Los Angeles based post-collegiate team and ringers surged for three unanswered goals to close the first half ahead 6-5. Play was mostly even after the intermission with the two teams just about trading goals but Tricheck was still ahead by that one goal with time running out. A UCSB goal tied it at 8-8 but then in the closing moments Tricheck put in another two goals for the 10-8 final.
Ramsey commented, "that one was tough because we turned the ball over three or four times in a row on offense to close out the first half and it gave them life going into half-time."
Tricheck capitalized on those UCSB turnovers with the three unanswered goals to take that 6-5 lead.
"When it got down to less than two minutes in the first half one or two attempts at good looks on offense by us instead of forcing it like we did and we could have gone into half-time up 5-3 or maybe 6-3," Ramsey concluded.
The two minutes at the end of the first half of this one notwithstanding, though, the Gauchos had a good outing in the OC.
Box Scores
UC Irvine Scrimmage
Team OC Scrimmage
Tricheck Scrimmage
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