April 26, 2008

Official Scoresheet in PDF Format

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Senior defender Jessica Soza scored the game-winning goal with 3:01 remaining in the fourth quarter to lead top-seeded UC Davis to a 5-4 win over fifth-seeded Santa Clara in the semifinal game of the Western Water Polo Association women's championship at Loyola Marymount's Burns Recreation & Aquatic Center Saturday.

The Aggies, ranked in a tie for ninth in Wednesday's National Collegiate Top 20, improves to 25-8 for the season. The 17th-ranked Broncos dip to 19-12 overall.

Senior center Laura Uribe had two goals and junior Lindsay Kiyama added one, all of which came as a result of Santa Clara exclusions. Sophomore goalie Casey Hines recorded six saves in front of the UC Davis net. For Santa Clara, sister Amy and Allie Lamb compiled all four of their team's goals: Amy scored three goals and Allie added the balance. Goalie Randahl Capurro registered 12 saves for the Broncos.

"Santa Clara did a better job protecting the ball than they did against us two weeks ago at Schaal, which really minimized our counterattack opportunities," said Aggie head coach Jamey Wright. "Then they did a good job at dropping in, which took away our two meters. So getting those three 6-on-5 chances made the difference in the game."

Neither team held a lead greater than one goal at any point in the contest. The Broncos took a 3-2 advantage early in the second period on Allie Lamb's 6-on-5 goal, but Uribe tied the game less than two minutes later on an extra-man situation. The two teams went to the halftime break locked in a 3-3 tie.

Soza hit an outside shot for only goal in the third period, putting UC Davis up by a 4-3 lead. Amy Lamb completed her hat trick early in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 4-4, then Soza scored on a tough angle at the one position, skipping a shot under Capurro's arm on the near side of the cage.

The Aggies successfully defended against their last five 5-on-6 spots in the game, including two in each of the third and fourth quarters. Santa Clara earned a 6-on-5 opportunity and a chance to tie the game with less than two minutes remaining, but senior Christi Raycraft posted a key field block against Amy Lamb to end the threat.

"Our 5-on-6 defense was another big factor for us," said Wright. "Casie Mota had some big field blocks and Christi [Raycraft] had the one at the end. Everyone played great 5-on-6 defense."

UC Davis and Loyola Marymount will square off in the WWPA title game at 4 p.m. on Sunday. This is the fourth straight year that the Aggies and Lions have met in the conference championship game, the winner of which earns the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Championship in May.

GOALS - SCU: Amy Lamb 3, Allie Lamb 1. UC Davis: Laura Uribe 2, Jessica Soza 2, Lindsay Kiyama 1.

GOALIES - SCU: Randahl Capurro 12 saves, 5 goals against (32:00). UC Davis: Casey Hines 6 saves, 4 goals against (32:00).