Irvine, Calif. – No. 9 UCSB (8-5) was defeated by No. 8 Michigan (9-5) on the first day of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational by a final score of 10-4. The Wolverines are now 3-0 against Santa Barbara this season, accounting for more than half of UCSB's losses.
It was a tough match for the Gauchos even though they took an early lead thanks to freshman Sarah Synder, who opened up the game with a goal at 5:10 in the first quarter.
Although Michigan was able to answer with a goal a minute later, UCSB locked up on defense, holding the Wolverines without a goal for the rest of the quarter to keep it tied at 1-1. In the second quarter, the Gauchos allowed two goals but stopped the rest of Michigan's attack, heading into halftime down 3-1.
In the second half, UCSB's Kate Pipkin came bursting through the gates at the start of the quarter with a very quick goal at the 7:29 mark, making the score 3-2 in favor of Michigan.
For the rest of the quarter, the Gauchos couldn't capitalize on the momentum Pipkin created, falling behind as the Wolverines pulled ahead with another four goals making it 2-7.
In the fourth, freshman Abbey Grosse fired in a goal with 4:23 left on the clock and senior Brenna Thomas added another with 2:32 to go, but UCSB gave up another three scores, ending with a 10-4 defeat.
The Gauchos will be back in action tomorrow for two more games, with their first coming against No. 22 CSUN at Corona del Mar Pool at 8 a.m. Their second game will be against either No. 15 Long Beach State or No. 17 San Jose State.
