Sept. 20, 2003

IRVINE, Calif. - Eleventh-ranked UC Santa Barbara lost two matches, both heartbreakers, in first day action at the Southern California Water Polo Tournament on Saturday at UC Irvine.

In the Gauchos first match of the day, Steve Traverso scored three goals and Matt Tilburg and Ian Christensen each added one, but it wasn't enough as sixth-ranked UC San Diego built a 5-3 halftime lead and then held on for the win. UCSB freshman goalie Rick Wright was outstanding in the cage, recording ten saves.

Later in the afternoon, the Gauchos took on top-ranked Stanford and the Cardinal needed a power-play goal by sophomore Peter Varellas with five seconds remaining in regulation, to tie the score at 7-7. Stanford then scored one goal in each half of the overtime to win, 9-7.

UCSB was led by sophomore Ian Christensen, junior Andrew Schoneberger and senior Doug Arthur in the narrow defeat to the Cardinal as each scored a pair of goals. Wright was again outstanding, collecting nine saves.

The Gauchos, now 6-4 on the season, will play in the Ninth-Place Bracket on Sunday. UCSB will take on the University of the Pacific at 12:25 p.m.

Match No. 1
                   1   2   3   4   Total
UC Santa Barbara   1   2   1   1    5
UC San Diego       1   4   1   0    6

UCSB Goals: Steve Traverso-3; Matt Tilburg; Ian Christensen
UCSD Goals: Brandon Borso-2; Matthew Ustaszewski-2; Matt Ellis, Clark Petersen
Saves: Rick Wright (UCSB) 10; Colin McElroy (UCSD) 7

Match No. 2
                   1   2   3   4   OT   OT   Total
UC Santa Barbara   1   4   1   1   0    0     7
Stanford           2   4   0   1   1    1     9

UCSB Goals: Ian Christensen-2; Doug Arthur-2; Andrew Schoneberger-2; Matt Tilburg
Stanford Goals: Peter Varellas-3; Greg Crum-2, Tony Azevedo, Tyler Drake, Thomas Hopkins, Mike Derse
Saves: Rick Wright (UCSB) 9; Chad Taylor (Stanford) 6