SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Madison Walker, who has been the backbone of the UC Santa Barbara Women's Water Polo team this season, delivered her sixth double-digit save performance of the season, but the No. 15 Gauchos fell to No. 8 UC Irvine on Friday, 10-7. Walker racked up 10 saves and a pair of steals in the net for Santa Barbara, while Aidan Flynn and Camilla Mackay each had a pair of goals on offense. Flynn added an assist to finish with a team-high three points.
 
FROM HEAD COACH SERELA KAY
"I think in the last three conference games, that has been the trend for us, so that indicates some mental breakdown," Kay said. "As our coach, I will take responsibility and try to figure out how we can finish games strong and start strong too. They got the first two ticks on the board, and it took us a little to warm up and feel comfortable, so we'll be working on just that in order to come out with victories in The Big West. Every team is good, so I think our gameplan was great, UCI is a really tough team. They play great defense and they counter hard, so that puts you in a little bit of a scramble mode on defense."
 
"Shoutout to Maddie (Walker). She is a force in the cage, even when she is not getting blocks, just her presence being in there, you can tell that shooters second-guess what to do and where to go. And shoutout to the team overall, a lot of faces got in, and I think that's unique to be able to mix up the starting lineup and go to the bench."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a game of runs on Friday, with each team scoring in bunches. The Anteaters did, in fact get the first two ticks on the board, scoring twice in the first four minutes, but the Gaucho offense rallied to score the next four. Flynn and Mackay tied the game before the end of the first quarter, then Juju Amaral and Jojo Scheer gave Santa Barbara a 4-2 lead less than a minute and a half into the second.
 
But UC Irvine was next to go on a run, scoring four straight themselves, taking a one-goal lead into halftime and making it a 6-4 advantage on the first possession of the third quarter. Again, the Gauchos responded, with Mackay scoring again and Annie Kuester capitalizing on a 6-on-5 opportunity to tie the game.
 
The Anteaters' final run of the day, a 3-0 burst that ended the third quarter and started the fourth, would prove decisive, though Flynn did tally her second goal of the day with just over a minute left to play, hinting that the Gauchos could rally. Instead, UC Irvine scored their 10^th goal of the day to secure the result.
 
UP NEXT
Santa Barbara will play their next three games in as many days, taking on No. 25 CSUN on Friday, April 5 and Concordia Irvine on Saturday, April 6, both on the road. The Gauchos then return to Santa Barbara to host No. 12 UC San Diego on Sunday, April 7 at Dos Pueblos High School. The Gauchos and Tritons will get underway at noon, and will be followed by a match between Team USA and Australia at 2:30 p.m. Admission to both games will be free.