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UCSB Ranked 5th in First Regular Season Poll

Feb. 18, 2009

Baltimore, MD - UCSB picked up the 5th spot in the USL WDIA Top 25 Poll released today. The 5-2 Gauchos are coming off a 3-2 performance in their last five games, with these last five games all played  against ranked opponents at the Santa Barbara Shootout. The two games UCSB has lost were both by one goal and one of those was an overtime loss. UCSB dropped a close decision to 3rd ranked Michigan by a 7-6 score. The Gauchos comeback bid fell just short after being behind 4-1 at one point in the game. UCSB won the next three games in the Shootout, dropping three Top 15 opponents in a row by felling 14th ranked Florida, 9th ranked Brigham Young and then 1st ranked but now 7th ranked Colorado State. Then, at the end of the Shootout, 8th ranked Georgia upset the Gauchos in a game which saw the Bulldogs leading 6-4 with under five minutes remaining but UCSB rallying to tie it and send it into overtime. Georgia then won it 9-8. 

The tough schedule for UCSB has pitted them against 6 ranked opponents in 7 games. UCSB wins over ranked opponents have been a 9-7 win over 7th ranked Colorado State, a 10-8 win over 9th ranked Brigham Young, a 9-6 win over 14th ranked Florida and a 20-4 win over 18th ranked Arizona State. UCSB also bettered unranked San Diego State 18-5 in the season opener for both teams.

After seeing the rankings UCSB head coach Paul Ramsey said, "We played a tougher schedule in our first seven games this year than we did last year."

"Our Shootout schedule was more difficult this year and even though we're a young team still gaining experience we performed admirably considering the circumstances."

The last six games have all come against ranked opponents and this Friday UCSB travels to 6th ranked UCLA to take on the much improved Bruins. UCLA is 2-3 but has played a schedule similarly as tough as UCSB. Their last game?  An 8-7 loss to 3rd ranked Michigan. Other common opponents and results include a 6-8 loss to 7th ranked Colorado State and a 10-5 win over 9th ranked Brigham Young. The game  is the Western Women's Lacrosse League Central Division opener for both teams. It starts at 6pm and will be played at the UCLA Intramural Fields since North Athletic Field doesn't have lights.