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UCSB Bests Claremont 21-11 in Exhibition Opener

Box Score

Jan. 29, 2011

Santa Barbara, CA - The Gauchos hosted NCAA Division III Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in an exhibition game and won 21-11 after leading 12-7 at halftime. Playing on the Rob Field turf UCSB took a 1-0 lead when senior Alyssa Nelsen (Denver, CO) received a pass from senior Ashley Antoon-Algieri (San Ramon, CA) and converted it into a goal 34 seconds into the game. The only two seniors on a young UCSB team started the season off by hooking up for the first goal of the game together. Claremont scored two straight goals after that to take a short-lived lead. The Gauchos tied it 2-2 and then the Athenas scored again to lead 3-2. It was their last lead of the game. UCSB goalie Jeni Centner (Tustin, CA) made a save on a Claremont free position shot and it started the Gauchos on a 10-4 finish of the half. UCSB broke it open to lead 12-7 at halftime. 

UCSB went six deep into it's six player bench right away. Everyone on the 18 player roster was in the game within the first 12 minutes of play. Substitutions continued liberally for the duration all the way up until the final moments. The five goal lead at halftime was doubled by game's end for the final 10 goal win.

The Athenas got after it early in the second half and outscored UCSB 3-1 during the first ten minutes before UCSB called a timeout. Claremont had pulled to within three goals at 13-10 with 20 minutes remaining. The Gauchos focused themselves during the timeout and took care of business. The result was an 8-1 run over the final 20 minutes that closed out the game for the Gauchos.  

"The run at the end was as impressive as anything else that happened during the game," said fourth year UCSB head coach Paul Ramsey.

"We put a good team away when it looked like they might get back into it."

Ten UCSB players contributed at least a goal or an assist and 9 players scored at least one goal. Antoon-Algieri led all scorers with 5 goals and 5 assists. Junior Maegan Cruse (San Diego, CA) was close behind with 5 goals and 3 assists. Senior Sarah Dick (Beverly, MA) led Claremont with 3 goals and 1 assist. Lauren Cary (Coronado, CA) stepped up to mark the Claremont leading returning scorer during the second half and had a big hand in limiting her opportunities at goal. Centner saved 12 and allowed 11 goals for 52% on saves.

UCSB opens up the regular season with a home game against UC San Diego on Saturday, February 5th, at Noon. The UCSB 'B' team will play UCSD 'B' at 10:00am and the SBCC team will play UCSD 'B' at 2:00pm to round out the triple header of lacrosse on the turf.

Click Here For Multiple Photos From the Claremont Game