April 24, 2009

Stockton, Calif. – The Pacific Tigers women's water polo team lost to No. 17 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos by a score of 14-8 in the first game of the inaugural Big West Conference Tournament at Pacific's Chris Kjeldsen Pool. The Tigers dropped to 9-24 overall with the loss, and will play Long Beach State on Sunday, April 26 at 11:00 a.m in the consolation round. With the win the Gauchos improved to 16-11 overall, and advance to take on Cal State Northridge in the semi-finals tomorrow at 4 p.m.

Pacific started the game off quickly by winning the sprint to gain the first possession of the game. The Tigers scored quick two goals to jump ahead with a 2-0 lead. The first goal was scored by sophomore Dara Tawarahara (Honolulu, Hawaii) on a 5-meter penalty shot. UC Santa Barbara answered by scoring three goals to take a 3-2 lead. Tiger sophomore Bridget Geck (Huntington Beach, Calif.) netted one goal to tie the score at 3-3. UC Santa Barbara's Gillian Morgan found the back of the net to make it a 4-3 Gaucho advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The Tigers made a defensive showing in the second quarter holding the Gauchos to only one goal. The Tiger's offense was able to match Santa Barbara's as Tawarahara found the back of the net for her second goal of the game. At the halftime break, Pacific trailed by one goal, 5-4.

The third quarter showed a strong offensive attack from the Gauchos. UC Santa Barbara tallied five more goals, getting one goal from each Amanda Tipton, Claire Buchanan, Alisha Khan, Kathryn Nelson, and Cailee Kilroy. Geck added another goal for the Tigers, but the Tigers fell behind 10-5 after three periods.

The Gauchos opened the fourth quarter scoring with a goal by Lizzie Rouleau but Pacific responded a mere twenty seconds later with a score by Tawarahara.  The Gauchos put two more goals on the board before Tawarahara found the back of the net for her fourth goal. Tawarahara's fifth and final goal came with 13 seconds left on the clock. UCSB ran the final seconds off win it by six.

UCSB was led by senior Amanda Lipton and junior Lizzie Rouleau who each tallied three goals.  Senior Gillian Morgan and sophomore Kathryn Nelson both added two goals for the Gauchos. Gaucho goalkeeper Chelesa Carrillo had six saves for UCSB.

The Tigers were led by Tawarahara's season high, five-goal game. This game marks the 11th time this season in which Tawarahara has scored three or more goals. Geck added two goals to the tally and freshman Allison Kosich (Stockton, Calif.) rounded out Pacific's goal scoring with one of her own.

Freshman Lindsey Pengilly (Stockton, Calif.) recorded nine saves and a steal in goal for the Tigers. Sophomore Meara McCarthy (Simsbury, Conn.) recorded a field block.

Scoring by Quarter:
Pacific: 3 - 1 - 1 - 3 = 8
UC Santa Barbara: 4 - 1 - 5 - 4 = 14

Pacific Goals: Dara Tawarahara (5). Bridget Geck (2), Allison Kosich (1)
UC Santa Barbara Goals: Amanda Tipoton (3), Lizzie Rouleau (3), Gillian Morgan  (2), Kathryn Nelson (2), Claire Buchanan (1), Alisha Khan (1), Cailee Kilroy (1), Jillian Waldron (1)

Pacific Saves: Lindsey Pengilly (9 saves, 1 steal)
UC Santa Barbara Saves: Chelsea Carillo (6 saves)