UCSB Outlasts CSUN in Overtime Thriller

Saturday, April 28

Irvine, CA

11:00 a.m.

California State University at Northridge

#16 UC Santa Barbara

Photo by: Samuel Ware

UCSB Outlasts CSUN in Overtime Thriller

4/28/2018 3:20:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

IRVINE, Calif.---No. 19 CSUN Water Polo (15-18) staged a pair of improbable rallies but No. 16 UC Santa Barbara scored the deciding goal in sudden death overtime to win 10-9 in a fifth-place match at the Big West Tournament on Saturday. In a game that took two hours to complete, the teams played a total of five overtime periods including three sudden death sessions before deciding a winner in both teams' season finale.

"In 15+ years of collegiate coaching that might be the best game I've ever been a part of," said head coach Matt Warshaw. "Being down 6-2 going into the fourth and then forcing it into overtimes shows the heart and soul of this group. Some real gutsy performances across the board, competing and grinding every possession out was truly something special."

The Matador senior class capped off their respective collegiate careers in style on Saturday with a number of terrific performances. Senior Katelyn Fairchild netted four goals to lead the offense while Madeleine Sanchez recorded a hat trick. Niki Van Vugt was stellar throughout the day in front of the cage, racking up 18 saves. Shannon Hovanesian picked up seven steals and two assists, Carly Wickman totaled two steals, Paula Abellan Garcia finished with three earned exclusions and Amy Yule collected two earned exclusions.

CSUN struck first in the opening period behind a goal from Fairchild but that would be the only scoring for nearly the remainder of the half. Van Vugt tallied five saves in the opening period as CSUN led 1-0 after eight minutes. The defensive battle continued in the second quarter with the Gauchos' Sarah Snyder scoring the lone goal.

UCSB opened up a four goal lead in the third period, outscoring CSUN 5-1. Mollie Simmons connected on a breakaway goal, and Kate Pipkin added to the lead with back-to-back strikes. Sanchez brought the Matadors to within 4-2 at the 1:39 mark, however UCSB scored twice more to take a 6-2 lead into the fourth period.

In the final eight minutes of regulation, the Matadors scratched and clawed their way back into the game. Fairchild hit the back of the net twice, both of which on power plays, to bring the Matadors within two. After CSUN forced a turnover, Van Vugt found a streaking Fairchild up the pool for another goal that cut the deficit to 6-5 with 2:12 left to play. The Matadors looked as though they would tie the match moments later on a Sanchez shot attempt, but the ball hit the top of the bar, went straight down and remained just inches away from breaking the goal plane.

Still though, the Matadors would not be denied in the fourth period. A costly UCSB foul resulted in a five-meter penalty shot. Sanchez hit the equalizer with 48 seconds left on the clock.

After neither side scored in the final seconds of regulation, the teams battled it out in overtime. Snyder put the Gauchos back in front in the first overtime period but CSUN responded with a game-tying strike from Sara Dempsey early on in the second overtime. UCSB surged back in front on a goal from Natalie Selin, and appeared in control after Sarah Kreiser scored as well. However, the Matadors had different ideas.

Sanchez cut the UCSB lead in half on a power play with 29 seconds left to play. With the shot clock turned off, the Matadors pressed the Gauchos leading to a steal from Jennalyn Barthels. Back the other way, Emma Franck quickly found room and hit a game-tying goal with 10 seconds left. Pipkin took the last shot of the period but Van Vugt made a save as the clock expired.

In the sudden death periods, Van Vugt continued her impressive play in the cage by making three saves including one on a power play to keep the match tied.

Finally, after 44 hard-fought minutes, the match would be decided in the opening minute. Annie Mortimer netted her only goal on the afternoon off a pass from Kreiser to lift the Gauchos to victory.

Capping off an unbelievable career, Sanchez leaves the Matadors as the all-time scoring leader in CSUN and Big West history with 229 career goals. On the season, Sanchez registered a team-best 54 goals while Fairchild posted a career-best 49 tallies. Van Vugt wraps up her collegiate career fourth all time in team history with 608 saves. As a team, CSUN finished with 15 wins this season, the program's most since 2015.

"The positive energy in this program and climbing back into the Top 20 is proof the program is heading in the right directions, and we can't wait to get started again next year," added Warshaw.

CSUN - 1-0-1-4-0-3-0-0-0 = 9
UCSB - 0-1-5-0-1-2-0-0-1 = 10

CSUN goal scorers: Fairchild 4 (49), Sanchez 3 (54), Dempsey (10), Franck (6)
UCSB goal scorers: Kreiser 2, Snyder 2, Pipkin 2, Simmons, Selin, Mortimer, Martin

CSUN saves: Van Vugt 18 (216)
UCSB saves: Snyder 4, Buck 4