SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The UC Santa Barbara Women's Water Polo team played at home for the first time in 2026 on Saturday, hosting Cal State Fullerton. After falling in an early hole, the Gauchos attempted to claw back, but while they out-scored the Titans over the final three quarters, it was not enough to complete the comeback in an 11-9 defeat.
 
Team top scorer Cami Mras was one of three Gauchos leading the way on offense with a pair of goals, joined by second-leading scorer Loretta Hovey and Molly Souza. Isabel Valaika had an incredible day playmaking, setting up five of Santa Barbara's nine goals. At the defensive end, Keira Wall made 10 saves to keep the Gauchos in the game, the first double-digit haul of her collegiate career.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos got off on the right foot on Saturday, with Gigi Rimlinger opening the scoring. Unfortunately, it turned into a game of runs and Santa Barbara could not put together as many as their guests. The Titans scored three straight to take the lead, and scored two more in a row after Hovey's first tally of the game had gotten the Gauchos within one. The 5-2 margin was Santa Barbara's mountain to climb, which they set about pretty effectively in the second quarter.
 
Souza scored both of her goals in the second period, with just one in response from the Titans. Then, with two and a half minutes until halftime, Zoe Gabriel beat the shot clock buzzer from deep to cut the deficit to one, where it stayed until the final two seconds of the half, When Fullerton went back up by a pair.
 
The defenses and goalkeepers ruled the third quarter, with only three goals between the two teams and none of them coming until the final two minutes of the frame. The Titans scored twice in quick succession to take a 9-5 lead into the final minute of the third, but Eliza Harlow scored to keep the gap at just three goals heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The gap came down to two with Mras' first goal of the day with six and a half minutes to play, but two more Titan goals made a comeback an even taller task. The Gauchos looked like they could make a run at it when Hovey's second goal of the game breathed life back into the capacity crowd with just under two minutes to play, but Santa Barbara took until the final six seconds to cut the deficit down to two.
 
UP NEXT
The Gauchos remain at home for their next two matches, hosting No. 10 UC Irvine on Friday, March 6 and No. 11 Long Beach State on Sunday, March 8. For the most up-to-date game information, visit ucsbgauchos.com.