Feb. 24, 2006

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The UC Davis women's water polo team came back from a 4-1 deficit early in the second quarter and defeated the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in a non-conference road game at UCSB's Campus Pool Friday afternoon. The Gauchos took an early lead, but the Aggies responded with a four-goal second quarter and finished with the 6-5 victory.

UC Santa Barbara got on the board first with a goal by Allie Carkin halfway through the first quarter. The Aggies evened the score with a goal by Casie Mota with 1:35 on the clock. On the next possession, Ashley Alker scored one for the Gauchos to take a narrow 2-1 lead into the second quarter.

The Gauchos grabbed a six-on-five goal early in the second followed by a regular strength goal to take a 4-1 lead with 4:42 left to go in the first half. The Aggie offense caught fire following the fourth Gaucho goal. Ashley Greenwood tallied a goal out of set which was followed by counter attack shot scored by Katherine O'Rourke a couple minutes later.

With 1:04 left to play in the second quarter, O'Rourke struck again, this time with a goal from the left post position during an Aggie power play, bringing the game score to a tie at 4-4. With only seven seconds left on the clock, Jessica Soza scored one to give the Aggies the 5-4 lead going into halftime.

Both teams stepped up their defensive efforts in the third quarter as only one goal was allowed: an Aggie goal by Mota with 45 seconds on the clock. In the fourth, UC Santa Barbara's Jean Clark brought the Gauchos within one point, but when the clock wound down on the game, the Aggies had captured the 6-5 win. At the end of the game, Aggie goalie Lina Moore had posted a season high 13 saves.

"I never want to say that there is a defining moment, but we were down 4-1 and were able to come back. I think by doing so they showed a lot of character. I couldn't be prouder. I was impressed by our off the bench play, Katie O'Neil and Megan Jimenez both played a great, great game," said head coach Jamey Wright of the upset.

WIth the win the Aggie season record has been lifted to 7-4 overall. The Gaucho's record fell to 5-6.

UC Davis will remain in Santa Barbara as they participate in this season's sixteen-team UCSB Gaucho Invitational Saturday and Sunday. The Aggies first game of the tournament will be against No. 2 UCLA at 9 a.m on Saturday.

UC Davis 6, UC Santa Barbara 5

                  1      2      3       4      FInalUC Davis          1      4      1       0        6UC Santa Barbara  2      2      0       1        5

UC Davis Goals: Katherine O'Rourke 2, Casie Mota 2, Ashley Greenwood 1, Jessica Soza 1.
UC Santa Barbara Goals: Alaina Whitaker 1, Zizi Clark 1, Allie Carkin 1, Jennifer D'Anna 1, Jean Clark 1.

UC Davis Goalie Saves: Brittany May 5.
UC Santa Barbara Goalie Saves: Lina Moore 13.