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UCSB 'B' 2-0 After 18-7 Win Over UCI

Box Score

Feb. 8, 2009

Irvine, CA- Well-rounded team play boosted the Gauchos to an 18-7 victory over UC Irvine, with a total of 9 players recording either a goal or an assist. The win today puts them 2-0 overall, with both wins coming against inter-region opponents. 

The Gauchos got on the board first, with a quick goal from sophomore Alyssa Newman off an assist from freshman captain Shelby Grose at 2:16 into the first half. UCI stayed close with 3 goals from Felicia Keith, sandwiched between Gaucho scores, but the more evenly balanced Gaucho offense won out. The first 8 UCSB goals were scored by 8 different players, ranging from low attackers like Newman and sophomore Danielle McComb, to defensive midfielders like sophomore rookie Rachel Lucas, who finished with a game high 2 goals and 2 assists.

While the game started off relatively close, a time out taken after the Anteaters' go-ahead 5th goal 24 minutes into the first half put the Gauchos into overdrive. The team came out of the time out with determination and focus, leading to 6 more quick goals in the remaining 5 minutes. Grose tallied both the first and last goals of the 6 goal swing, with her two free position scores to make the score 10-5.

"The timeout could not have come at a better time," recalled Coach Jaime Schumaker.  "There had been a scoring drought on our end, and everyone could tell that our defense was getting frustrated. We just needed some time to regroup and talk about what was going on out there--and more importantly how to fix it. As you can tell by the stats in those last 5 minutes we did just that."

Half time did nothing to quench the Gauchos desire for a 'W'.  UCSB came back out and netted 8 second half goals, starting with an unassisted goal by sophomore Katie Cunningham only 1:35 into the second half, and ending with Cunningham's textbook free position goal at the final whistle. Grose led the attack with 4 goals and 1 assist, followed by Cunningham, Lucas,  and sophomore Lexie Cousens who each tallied 4 points in a combination of goals and assists. The defense, led by sophomore Ashley Nepomuceno, kept the Anteaters to only 2 more goals scored in the entire second half. Nepomuceno had a game high 6 caused turnovers to add to her impressive defense. Freshman goalie Olga Galperin posted 5 saves in her first game in goal. 

"I'm extremely proud of my team today," Schumaker commented. "They worked so well together. Everyone saw pretty equal playing time, and the depth of our skill as a team is becoming even more apparent. To have so many contributers in these first two games is looking good for us as we continue on in our season."  The Gauchos are already looking ahead to the Santa Barbara Shootout, where they face five WWLL opponents (Chapman, Sonoma State, UCSD 'B', USC 'B', and University of Nevada, Reno) in two days.