SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The 21st-ranked UC San Diego women's water polo team concluded the UC Santa Barbara Winter Invitational with an 8-7 win over CSU Bakersfield in the first of two games. The Tritons then fell to No. 13 UCSB, hosts of the tournament, by a final score of 10-9.
GAME ONE – UCSD 8, CSU Bakersfield 7
UCSD used a fast start to take down CSUB, 8-7. The Tritons shut out the Roadrunners in the opening period and fired home four goals from senior attacker Emma Sasson, sophomore utility Kayla Fedler, senior two-meter Alexis Wieseler and senior attacker Laurel Kistler.
In the second frame, it was UCSD that could not get anything going offensively as CSUB put away three shots in the quarter and shut out the Tritons. UCSD held a slight 4-3 edge at halftime.
The Roadrunners took the first score of the second half to tie the game. Fedler gave the Tritons back the lead after she found the back the cage. It was short-lived, as CSUB was able to even the score on a six-on-five on the following possession. The two teams entered the final period in a 5-5 stalemate.
UCSD broke the game open with two straight goals from Kistler and senior attacker Julia Kirkland to start the fourth frame. After a Roadrunner score, Alexis Wieseler put one away to keep a two-goal advantage. CSUB got the last score of the game with 11 seconds left, but the Tritons let time expire to prevail.
Kistler, Wieseler and Fedler led UCSD with two goals each. Senior goalkeeper Courtney Miller compiled eight saves. Kristen Jensen and Jada Heldberg each scored twice to pace the Roadrunners.
GAME TWO - UCSB 10, UCSD 9
UCSD scored first as Kistler found the back of the cage on a powerplay. The Gauchos' Samantha Murphy tied the score as the two teams deadlocked, 1-1, after one quarter of play.
UCSB looked to pull away, scoring two unanswered to begin the second period. The Tritons got goals from junior center Lauren Boyer and Alexis Wiesler to even the contest. The Gauchos fired back with another two scores on back-to-back posessions. Boyer fired one home with 40 seconds before the intermission as UCSD trailed by one, 5-4, at halftime.
Both teams scored twice in the third period. The UCSD goals came from Kirkland and Alexis Wieseler as the Gauchos held a 7-6 advantage going into the final frame.
Alexis Wieseler tied the game on a five-meter penalty shot for the Tritons in the fourth quarter, but UCSB pulled ahead yet again on the ensuing possession 14 seconds later. Boyer was able to even the score on a powerplay, but the Gauchos answered back with another goal. With 1:30 remaining, the Tritons were awarded their fourth penalty shot of the contest and Alexis Wieseler buried it to make it a 9-9 stalemate. UCSB's Miranda Schrader was able to score on a six-on-five with 41 seconds for the game-winner as UCSD came up empty on its last chance.
Alexis Wieseler led the Tritons with three goals. Boyer chipped in three. Miller amassed eight saves.
UCSD will not play until Friday, Feb. 5. The Tritons will hit the road to take on USC in Los Angeles at 5 p.m.
GAME ONE
UCSD 4 0 1 3 - 8
CSUB 0 3 2 2 - 7
Goals
UCSD: Laurel Kistler 2, Alexis Wieseler 2, Kayla Fedler 2, Emma Sasson 1, Julia Kirkland 1
CSUB: Kristen Jensen 2, Jada Helberg 2, Tancy Aldridge 1, Ashley Paz 1, Niki De Leon 1
Saves
UCSD: Courtney Miller 8
GAME TWO
UCSD 1 3 2 3 - 9
UCSB 1 4 2 3 - 10
Goals
UCSD: Alexis Wieseler 4, Lauren Boyer 3, Julia Kirkland 1, Laurel Kistler 1
UCSB: Brenna Thomas 2, Taylor Shore 2, Miranda Schrader 2, Samantha Murphy 2, Lauren Martin 1, Sara Kreiser 1
Saves
UCSD: Courtney Miller 8
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