DAVIS, Calif. – Taking on No. 20-T Cal State Northridge in the fifth-place match of the Big West Tournament on Saturday, No. 17 UCSB fell 5-3. Sophomore Kate Pipkin and seniors Brenna Thomas and Jenna Solberg all scored in the Gauchos' final outing of the season.
After entering the fourth quarter trailing by just one goal, No. 6 seed UCSB (15-14, 0-5) was shutout the rest of the way. The fifth-seeded Matadors (12-20, 1-4) were led by junior Madeleine Sanchez, who put away her fourth goal of the day with 3:25 remaining to seal the win for Northridge.
UCSB never led in the game, but did find equalizers on three occasions. After being shutout 1-0 through one period, Thomas would tie things up early in the second thanks to an assist from sophomore Sarah Kreiser.
Several minutes later, Sanchez scored her first of the day, putting the Matadors up 2-1. Just past the halfway point of the second quarter though, senior Miranda Schrader found Solberg for a goal to even things up at 2-2. Sanchez would find another goal one minute later to send CSUN into the halftime break leading 3-2.
The Gauchos were the first to strike in the opening minutes of the third, as Pipkin scored to make it 3-3. However, Sanchez would provide the final two scores of the day, notching one in both the third and the fourth to seal the victory.
UCSB ends its second consecutive season with an overall record above .500. The Gauchos' 15 wins currently stand as the fourth-highest mark in the Big West.
