Oct. 12, 2001

The Schedule
Match No.10
Friday, October 12, 2001 at 7:00 p.m.
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at the University of the Pacific Tigers
at Pacific's Stagg Field

Match No.11
Sunday, October 14, 2001 at 7:00 p.m.
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at Cal State Northridge Matadors
at CSUN's Campus Stadium

Gaucho Update
Since opening the season with a three match losing streak, UC Santa Barbara has gone a solid 4-2-1. The Gauchos' improvement has come primarily on the defensive end. Since allowing 11 goals in the firs three matches, including six in a loss to Westmont, UCSB has tightened up, giving up just six goals in the last seven contests. Over that span, the Gauchos have allowed more than one goal just one time, and they have posted a pair of shutouts.

Big West Kickoff
This weekend's matches open Big West Conference play. Last year, the Gauchos finished in fifth-place in the league with a 4-4-0 record, but they entered the season-finale at Cal Poly with a chance to win the title. A victory, and three teams, including the Gauchos, would have finished at 5-3, tied for the top spot, but UCSB had the tiebreaker in all instances. The Gauchos, however, lost 1-0 in overtime, thus finishing fifth.

Offensive Boost
This season, the Gauchos have already scored 17 goals, only two fewer that what they scored in 19 matches last season. All this before even heading into conference play. Their scoring average is at 1.5 goals per game, which is up from just 1.0 last season. Last year UCSB attempted 250 shots the entire season. This year they have already attempted 153 with nine matches to go.

Why Wait?
This year's freshman class hasn't wasted any time making its impact for the Gauchos. As most freshmen are merely expected to learn the ropes of the program in their first season, these women felt that wasn't the case. The freshmen have outscored the rest of the squad 10 to 7, in addition, they have taken 85 shots on goal compared the remaining Gauchos' 68. Forward Jen Borcich leads the team with four goals and four assists for a total of 12 points, ahead of fellow freshman, midfielder Krystal Sandza who has tallied nine points off of four goals and one assist.

Not To Be Outdone
While the freshmen have stolen much of the headlines this year, there are several other players making major offensive contributions. Leading the way are a pair of juniors. Midfielder Jen Codington has tallied three goals and two assists for eight points, and junior forward Erica Perrotta has notched one goal and three assists for eight points. Perrotta is in her first season as a forward, spending her last two seasons as a midfielder.

Gauchos Return Home Next Week
UCSB returns home next weekend for a pair of matches. On Friday, October 19, the Gauchos will host Utah State in a match scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m., but as the second match of a doubleheader with the men's team, we are more realistic and expect an 8:25 start. On Sunday, October 21, they host Idaho at 1:00 p.m.