Nov. 16, 2003

In the last MPSF match of the 2003 season, and in the last regular season home match for UC Santa Barbara seniors Doug Arthur and Steve Traverso, the Gaucho water polo team defeted Pacific, 12-7. The victory improves UCSB's record to 12-14 overall and is its first MPSF victory of the season. In addition, the win earns Santa Barbara home pool advantage in the MPSF Tournament play-in game held between the #8 and #9 teams at the conclusion of conference play.

Pacific struck first as its leading goal scorer Eddie Wisniewski found the back of the net a minute into the first period. The Gauchos responded quickly as Brian Alexander slipped one past Pacific goalkeeper Tom Markel. Matt Tilburg, Joe Ferguson, and Andrew Schoneberger all scored a goal apiece to close out the first quarter of play, giving UCSB a 4-1 lead.

The second quarter was all Pacific as Julian Gonzalez scored two goals and Wisniewski added another of his own, to knot the score at 4-4.

However, the Gauchos caught fire in the second half outscoring Pacific 8-3 en route to the 12-7 victory. Alexander tacked on two more goals to finish the day with three, senior Doug Arthur scored twice, and a number of other players scored one goal apiece. On the day, Santa Barbara had a total of nine players score goals in what was the most well rounded offensive performance of the season.

Seniors Doug Arthur and Steve Traverso connected on the eventual nail-in-the-coffin goals just seconds into the fourth quarter. Arthur dumped the ball into Traverso who was about 2-meters out and Traverso promptly flipped it back to Arthur who fired the ball past the keeper. Then, to return the favor, Arthur found Traverso in the 2-meter slot again and this time Traverso whipped a shot of his own into the back of the net.

Wisniewski scored three goals for the Tigers and Gonzalez added two of his own. Chris Lancelloti also found the back of the net once. For the Gauchos, Ian Christensen, Ross Sinclair, and Matt Dale, each scored one goal apiece.

Santa Barbara returns to action Sunday, Nov. 23 against Pacific as part of the MPSF Tournament. The Gauchos will host the game but it has not yet been determined where it will be played.

UCSB Scoring - Alexander-3, Arthur-2, Schoneberger-1, Tilburg-1, Ferguson-1, Dale-1, Christensen-1, Sinclair-1, Traverso-1
Pacific Scoring - Wisniewski-3, Gonzalez-2, Lancelotti-1
UCSB Goalkeeping - Wright-4 saves
Pacific Goalkeeping - Markel-4 saves