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2nd Ranked Gauchos Down 19th Ranked USC 15-6

Box Score

Feb. 24, 2010

Los Angeles, CA - UCSB made the short drive south to face 19th ranked University of Southern California on the road in a weeknight game and picked up their 8th straight win this season with a wet 15-6 outcome. Heavy rain prior to the game soaked the turf but it didn't slow down the 2nd ranked Gauchos. UCSB scored the first two goals but then led only 2-1 after an unassisted Trojan goal 4:25 into the first half. An unassisted goal by freshman Lindsay Remigio (Syosset, NY) started a 9 goal run and the Gauchos sprinted out to an 11-1 halftime lead. Six different UCSB players scored during the run which extended to the first goal of the second half to make it 10 unanswered goals. The Gauchos led 12-1 on the first goal of the second half but USC reeled off 3 straight goals of their own to close the gap at 12-4 with 20 minutes remaining. Then each team traded goals 1 for 1 over the last four goals of the game for the 15-6 final.

UCSB players Francesca Perrone (Davis, CA) and Alyssa Nelsen (Denver, CO) led all scorers with 5 points each. Perrone tallied her points with 4 goals and 1 assist while Nelsen nabbed hers with 2 goals and 3 assists. Eight Gauchos were involved in the scoring. Freshman defender Kelly Boyle (San Diego, CA) had a breakout game in her first start of the season with 4 ground balls, 4 caused turnovers and 1 draw control. Freshman Emilia Norlin (Mill Valley, CA) moved up from defense to midfield for the game and snared 5 draw controls, 3 ground balls and 1 caused turnover. Norlin also came tantalizingly close to her first goal of her college career with a first half opportunity but her shot caromed off the pipe. 

"Everyone on this team is so versatile it doesn't surprise me that Emilia played well up higher and that Kelly did so well in her first start," said UCSB head coach Paul Ramsey.

The Gauchos were without the services of 4 starters for the game. Three were sidelined with injuries and another was missing due to an academic conflict. It didn't seem to slow them down much.

"It says a lot that we can get up 12-1 on a Top 20 team when we're missing two All-Americans and two other fine players who helped us get our first 7 wins this year," added Ramsey. "We've been missing Second Team All-American Attacker Sam Lutz (San Diego, CA) all year so far and I'm very happy to say she's been cleared for participation in practice on Thursday." 

Lutz was the second leading scorer for UCSB in 2009 with 73 points on 42 goals and 31 assists. The leading scorer from last year with 85 points (46 goals and 39 assists) was First Team All-American attacker Ashley Antoon-Algieri (San Ramon, CA). The junior hasn't been on offense much at all while she's been trying her hand at midfield defense. This has put everyone else in a great position to be involved even more on offense for UCSB. It also means the Gauchos have outscored their opponents 101-56 with 6 of their 8 opponents ranked while other players, besides the team's two leading returning scorers, are getting valuable experience on offense. Antoon-Algieri was never a ball hog (team leader in 2009 with 39 helpers) so when she does transition into the offensive end she looks to play with her teammates.

"I feel we can almost put anyone anywhere on the field and be successful," said Ramsey. "Of course, we're ready to put Tash and everyone else in primary roles when push comes to shove."

UCSB will certainly want everyone back in action on Saturday when they take on 4th ranked UC Davis on the Rob Field Turf in a 1:00pm game.  Lutz will be evaluated for her readiness before then and First Team All-American midfielder Maggie Aker (Oakland, CA) and sophomore attacker Megan Dawe (Martinez, CA), who both rested against USC, will play if ready.

"We haven't had everyone available yet this year so it will be nice if it happens this weekend but I'm confident in everyone on the team considering they've all proven themselves," commented Ramsey. 

"This is going to be a great game!"

The Gauchos improved to 8-0 overall and 7-0 in the WDIA. The game was also their first in the WWLL Central Division so UCSB is also 1-0 in league play.