April 16, 2011

LONG BEACH, Calif. - An early four-goal lead for No. 16 UC Santa Barbara, (16-10, 3-1) was just enough to hold off No. 19 Long Beach State (11-15, 0-3) as the Gauchos earned an 8-7 victory in a Big West Conference game at Long Beach on Saturday afternoon.

Shelby Haroldson started the game with a goal less than one minute into play. The next two goals for the Gauchos were from seniors, as Claire Buchanan and Kathryn Nelson each scored in the first quarter and UCSB took a 3-0 lead into the second.

The other Nelson sister, Rachel, helped the Gauchos to a 4-0 lead. Her goal came only four seconds into the quarter.

The 49ers received back-to-back goals from senior Meaghan Leonard and freshman Chelsea Parks to cut the Gaucho lead to two.

UCSB regained the momentum with a score from Kathryn Nelson with two minutes left before the quarter ended. The Gauchos would maintain the 5-2 lead into halftime.

Long Beach State started its comeback in the third period by recording back-to-back goals from Coriann Snyder and Krizia Cerda.

Haroldson sank her second goal of the day for the Gauchos before the third period ended and the Gauchos took a 6-4 lead into the final period of the game.

Snyder scored the first goal in the fourth period for Long Beach State but UCSB would answer with back-to-back goals from Claire Buchanan to seal her hat trick performance.

The 49ers would score twice more but the lead was insurmountable and the Gauchos willingly took the one goal victory, 8-7. UCSB improves to 16-10 overall and 3-1 in the Big West. The Gauchos will play UC Irvine in Irvine tomorrow at noon at Anteater Pool.

UCSB Scores: Claire Buchanan 3, Shelby Haroldson 2, Kathryn Nelson 2, Rachel Nelson.

LBSU Scores: Coriann Snyder 3, Krizia Cerda, Meaghan Leonard, Melissa Matheson, Chelsea Parks.

UCSB Saves: Ruth Milne 9.

LBSU Saves: - Kristen Stragier 6.