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UCSB Improves To 6-3 With Win Over Arizona State

Box Score

Feb. 24, 2013

Santa Barbara, CA - In a rare away one day and home the next day quirk in the schedule the Gauchos persevered against a feisty Arizona State team today after their 16-7 win at UCLA yesterday. UCSB won today with another strong second half in a 20-13 decision at the UCSB Recreation Center Sports Complex stadium field. The Gauchos seemed to be outplaying the Sun Devils through most of the first half but the scoreboard didn't show it. UCSB was up 8-3 at one point and 11-6 at another but each time ASU would surge and get it close.  Three straight Sun Devil goals at the end of the first half got them to within 2 scores at 11-9 going into halftime. After holding 11th ranked UCLA to 7 goals yesterday, including allowing just 1 goal in the second half, UCSB needed to step up similarly against the unranked Sun Devils.

"They were not slow and they took advantage of any opening we gave them," said UCSB head coach Paul Ramsey, "but we tightened up in the second half."

Arizona State wasn't going to go away and the Gauchos let them hang around too much in the first half with some lapses in focus and execution. A nice offensive series by the Gauchos was followed up by a draw control by ASU and a rush at the UCSB goal that too often resulted in a quality shot. The Gauchos outshot their opponent 31-19 overall and shot 64.5% so today offense wasn't a problem but lapses in the midfield let ASU stay in the game in the first half.

It was a tale of two halves, though, and UCSB knuckled down and outscored the Sun Devils 9-4 in the second half with a better defensive effort to get the final 7 goal margin of victory.  Senior Katie Mitchell (Lafayette, CA) scored 5 of her game high 7 goals in the first half and in the second half six UCSB players scored nine goals.  Eight UCSB players contributed to the offense. Junior Blair Evans (Salinas, CA) snared 6 draw controls to lead everyone at the center circle. Sophomore defender Alexandra Bowers ( San Jose, CA) had 3 ground balls, 3 caused turnovers and 3 draw controls against no turnovers to be plus 9 in possessions gained for UCSB.

"Recognizing when the other team is hanging around making the most of their opportunities and re-focusing on some basics like communicating and executing skills, staying focused, making saves is what makes this one a 7 or 8 goals allowed game for us," says Ramsey.

The Gauchos improved to 6-3 overall and ASU dropped to 3-4 overall. UCSB next plays two games in San Diego. Saturday at 1:00pm they will be at University of San Diego and Sunday at 11:00am they will play at San Diego State University. ASU hosts UC San Diego on Sunday.