May 1, 2011

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - UC Santa Barbara was unable to overcome Pacific on Sunday morning in the Big West Tournament's fifth-place game, falling to the Tigers, 6-4, at the Gauchos' Campus Pool. The game capped off a disappointing end to the Gauchos' season in which they posted 16-13 overall record and finished tied for second in the Big West regular season standings with a 3-2 league mark.

As was the case in its opening round game against Long Beach State on Friday, UCSB failed to get into an offensive rhythm during Sunday's game. The team, which averaged 10.5 goals per game heading into this weekend's action, scored just seven times across its two tournament games.

Pacific's Bethany Quertermous and Elise Martin scored consecutive goals halfway through the first period to give the Tigers the early lead. Claire Buchanan connected with the back of the net on a sweep shot out of center with 2:49 to go in the quarter to cut the deficit to one goal, but that's the closest the Gauchos would come. On the following possession, Mandy King tallied one for the Tigers to give them a 3-1 advantage heading into the second quarter.

The Tigers' sharpshooting continued late in the second when Quertermous and Siobhan Larsen tacked on two more goals to push the lead to 5-1 at half.

Katie Zakula, who started in place of injured senior Kathryn Nelson, converted on a counter attack 2:30 into the second half, but King added her second goal of the game with 2:53 to go in the third to give the Tigers a four-goal cushion heading into the fourth quarter.

Rachel Nelson nailed an outside shot just 46 seconds into the fourth and Bryce Winton scored with 2:08 to go, but the Gaucho comeback fell short as they dropped the game, 6-4.

As has been the case most of the season, UCSB won the ejections battle drawing six ejections versus Pacific's four. The Gauchos were unable to convert their six-on-five opportunities.

Ruth Milne posted 13 saves in the loss for the Gauchos. The sophomore is now just eight saves away from tying Yvonne Conard's school record of 595 career saves.

Sunday's game marked the final contest for Gaucho seniors Claire Buchanan, Kathryn Nelson, Christie Clark, Kristin Kulakowski and Chelsea Carrillo.

In Sunday's tournament championship, top-seeded UC Irvine won its third-straight Big West Tournament title with an 11-5 win over Long Beach State. The Anteaters also earned the conference's first automatic berth into the NCAA Women's Water Polo Tournament. Cortney Collyer was named the Tournament MVP after tallying six goals across the Anteaters' two tournament games, including four in the championship. In the third place game, UC Davis defeated Cal State Northridge, 9-7.

Fifth Place Game: Pacific 6, UC Santa Barbara 4

Pacific Goals: Bethany Quertermous 2, Mandy King 2, Siobhan Larsen, Elise Martin.
Pacific Saves: Michele Relton 5.

UCSB Goals: Claire Buchanan, Katie Zakula, Rachel Nelson, Bryce Winton.
UCSB Saves: Ruth Milne 13.

Third Place Game: UC Davis 9, Cal State Northridge 7

UCD Goals: Carmen Eggert 2, Jessica Dunn 2, Carey Faber, Ariel Feeney, Alicia Began, Dakotah Mohr, Becca Smith.
UCD Saves: Riane Woods 7.

Northridge Goals: Heidi Pettinger 3, Leah Janke 2, Melissa Doll, Jessica Goforth.
Northridge Saves: Dana Harvey 11.

Championship Game: UC Irvine 11, Long Beach State 5

LBSU Goals: Melissa Matheson 2, Krizia Cerda 2, Coriann Snyder.
LBSU Saves: Kristen Stragier 6.

UCI Goals: Cortney Collyer 4, Danielle Warde 2, Katie Croghan 2, Caitlin Haskell 2, Jessy Cardey.
UCI Saves: Lauren Davis 12.