Oct. 30, 2001

The Schedule
Match No. 17
Friday, November 2, 2001, 6:00 p.m.
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos vs. UC Riverside Highlanders
at UCSB's Harder Stadium

Match No. 18
Sunday, November 4, 2001, 1:00 p.m.
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos vs. Cal State Fullerton Titans
at UCSB's Harder Stadium

The Gaucho Record
UC Santa Barbara enters the week with an overall record of 9-6-1 and a Big West mark of 5-1, tying them with Cal State Fullerton for first place. The Gauchos also enter the week with a four match winning streak, the programs longest since 1993. During the four match streak, UCSB has outscored its opposition by a 10-1 count. Since opening the season at 0-3, the Gauchos have gone 9-3-1. UCSB has actually been more successful on the road than at home, posting a 6-3-0 record away from home, and a 3-3-1 record at home. Finally, the Gauchos are three matches over .500 for the first time since 1993.

On The Stumpf
Paul Stumpf is in his third season at UC Santa Barbara. He enters this week's action with a record of 26-24-2. Last season, he guided UCSB to a 9-9-1 record, and within one game of the Big West Championship. 2000 marked the first time that UCSB had finished at or over the .500 mark since 1993. Two years ago, Stumpf's first at UCSB, he took a team that was selected to finish last in the conference, but instead posted an 8-9-1 overall record and a 5-4 mark in the Big West. Following the season, Stumpf was chosen as the Big West's Coach of the Year. Before arriving in Santa Barbara as an assistant coach in 1998, Stumpf spent two seasons as an assistant at Humboldt State. In addition, the San Diego native spent several years coaching club teams in the Santa Rosa area.

UCSB Sweeps Big West Weekend, Extend Streak To Four
The Gauchos recorded a pair of Big West road victories this weekend, blanking UC Irvine by a 4-0 count, and then stopping Long Beach State, 3-1. The victories on the road give UCSB a four match winning streak, the program's longest since 1993. Also, if the Gauchos win just one more match, they would clinch their first winning season since the 1993 season when they were 13-6-0.

Big West Crown On The Line This Weekend
The Big West women's soccer championship will be on the line this weekend. UCSB and Cal State Fullerton enter the weekend in a flat-footed tie identical 5-1-0 records, and 15 points. Cal State Northridge is third with 13 points (4-2-1), but they have played seven league matches, and Cal Poly has 11 points (3-1-2). If either UCSB or Cal State Fullerton sweeps its matches this weekend, they would clinch the league title. Although they could still wind up tied, the winner of Sunday's match would have the tiebreaker.

Borcich Named Big West Player Of The Week
Freshman forward Jen Borcich was named Big West Player of the Week, the first Gaucho this season to be so honored. Borcich scored a goal, and an assist in the win over UC Irvine, and then had a pair of goals, and an assist in the win at Long Beach State. For the week, the native of Sacramento scored three goals, and two assists for eight points.

More On Borcich
Borcich is having the best offensive season of any UCSB player in recent years. With nine goals, seven assists, and 25 points, she leads the Big West Conference in all three categories. In addition, her 25 points is the highest total by a Gaucho player since 1993, and the most by a UCSB freshman since 1986. Borcich has scored all nine of her goals, and four of her assists in the last ten matches.

Krystal Klear
While Borcich took a few matches to emerge, freshman midfielder Krystal Sandza hit the ground running, and has continued to play a key role in UCSB's offense. Sandza scored a pair of goals in the UCSB's opener against the University of San Diego, and after scoring one in Sunday's win over Long Beach State, she now has six. Sandza has also produced a pair of assists, and her total of 14 points ranks her second on the team and tenth in the league.

Tightening The Defense
UCSB opened the season with an 0-3 record. More distressing was the fact that the team had allowed 11 goals in the three losses, a goals against average of 3.67. Since those first three contests, however, the Gauchos have tightened things up, allowing just ten goals in the last 13 matches, recording a goals against average of 0.75. Over the 13 match span, UCSB has posted five shutouts, and given up just one goal in six other matches. In the last 13, the Gauchos have outscored the opposition by a 22-10 count.

How Sweet It Is: Gleason Emerges
Senior goalkeeper Mary Gleason has been a major part of the Gauchos' improved defensive efforts. After a slow start, Gleason has picked up the pace, recording five shutouts in the last 12 matches. On the season, her goals against average is now 1.02, its lowest point of the year. With five shutouts, Gleason now has 17 in her career, the fourth highest total in school history. Additionally, with 67 saves on the year, Gleason now has 344, the most in school history.