News|Schedule / Results|Roster|Officers &Coaches|

Traveling Gauchos Improve to 14-2 Overall With Win Over Oregon

Box Score

Apr. 5, 2009

Palo Alto, CA - UCSB used a 9-1 second half to break  open a 4-4 halftime stalemate and win 13-5 in a run-away over the club from the University of Oregon at the Western States Tournament at Stanford University. UCSB trailed 3-4 for a brief time in the first half before junior Maggie Aker (Oakland, CA) buried a free position shot to tie it shortly before half-time. The second half outburst against the 25th ranked Ducks  (8-5) was the mix of inspired defense and dynamic offense the Gauchos have been looking to find since coming back from 14 days off during final exams week and spring break.

"We had a few tic-tac-toe passing sequences on offense that would be double assist plays in hockey," said head coach Paul Ramsey after the game.  "It was fun to watch."

All-American candidate Ashley Antoon-Algieri (San Ramon, CA) came off the bench to spark the Gauchos in the second half. Ramsey had hoped to keep the sophomore out to help her start the healing process for strained adductor muscles suffered in practice earlier in the week. UCSB needed her, legs ready or not, and Antoon-Algieri's impact was immediate. She assisted freshman Megan Dawe (Martinez, CA) just 45 seconds into the second frame. Then she scored solo 6 minutes later, was on the receiving end of a pass from junior  Samantha Lutz (San Diego, CA) 9 minutes after that and assisted Lutz for the final score of the game. Between all those tallies other combinations of Gauchos responded with the five goals that contributed to the 9-1 second half blitz. It was back to the ways of old for UCSB with 8 Gauchos getting involved in the scoring of 13 goals and 7 of the 11 scores from the field assisted. Two UCSB goals were scored on free positions from the 8 meter arc.

"She sparked the entire team" is amost all Ramsey needed to say about Antoon-Algieri's effect but then he added, "and she's not even 100% right now."

Antoon-Algieri finished with 2 goals and 2 assists in just 30 minutes of action to bring her season total to 52 points on 25 goals and 27 assists. Lutz scooped Antoon-Algieri on total points for the game with six coming from a 4 goal and 2 assist effort. Freshman Jeni Center (Tustin, CA) had 5 saves while only allowing 5 goals. Centner was 5 of 6 in the second half, helping UCSB turn away the Ducks. Junior Brittany Barry (Basking Ridge, NJ) was one of the statistical leaders on defense. Barry had 4 ground balls, 3 draw controls and 1 caused turnover. Right behind her was junior Monora Seth (San Diego, CA) with 4 ground balls and 3 caused turnovers.

UCSB has been battle tested on the road this year but has emerged unscathed with a 5-0 record at the fhomes of other teams and 4-0 at neutral sites. The Gauchos are 5-2 at home with 1 goal losses at the hands of the current 4th and 7th ranked teams, Michigan and Georgia, respectively. Those losses came in a stretch in February at the Santa Barbara Shootout where UCSB faced five Top 15 teams in three consecutive days. Those teams were Top 15 at the tournament and they've remained in the Top 15 all season. Fourteen of the 16 UCSB opponents this year have been teams ranked in the Top 25 of the WDIA National Poll. Additionally, the other two teams on the UCSB schedule have been receiving votes in the poll.

Up next for UCSB is a WWLL Central Division game with University of Southern California. The game is at UCSB at 1:00pm on the UCSB Lacrosse Field (aka The Pit) weather permitting. The back-up location in case of inclement weather is the Rob Field Turf. The UCSB 'B' Team plays USC 'B' at 11:00am. It is the last regular season home game for both UCSB teams and seniors from both squads will be honored in a short ceremony at 12:45pm, following the 'B' Team game but before the 'A' Team game starts.