Nov. 30, 2003

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Freshman Joe Ferguson scored a goal with 29 seconds remaining in regulation and then senior captain Doug Arthur, playing his final match, scored with 27 seconds to go in the second overtime, to lead UC Santa Barbara to a thrilling 9-8 win over UC Irvine in the seventh-place match at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Water Polo Tournament in Long Beach, Calif.

Arthur, who scored a team-high three goals, scored his goal just 13 seconds after UCI's Phil Garcia had tied the match. The Gauchos were seeded eighth in the tournament and the Anteaters were seeded seventh.

In addition to Arthur's three goals, Ferguson and Brian Alexander each had a pair while Steve Traverso and Matt Dale each had one. Alexander ends the season with 70 goals scored, the seventh highest total in school history. UCSB freshman goalkeeper Rick Wright was outstanding in the match, producing a season-high 13 saves.

With the win, Santa Barbara ends the season with a 14-17 record. The 14 wins represented an increase of 11 wins over the 2002 season and it was the most wins by a UCSB team since 1993.

7th Place Qtrs                  1  2  3  4  OT  Total
#8 UC Santa Barbara (14-17)     2  3  1  1  2   9
#7 UC Irvine (12-17)            2  2  2  1  1   8

UCSB - Arthur (3), Alexander (2), Ferguson (2), Traverso, Dale

UCI - Rick Merlo (3), Garcia (2), Hutten, Noon, Masterson

Goalkeepers
UCSB - Wright (8 GA A, 13 Saves), UCI - Wynne (9 GA A, 5 saves)