LA MIRADA — The 11th-ranked UCSB women’s water polo team played a tough, close match against 7th-ranked Long Beach State Saturday night, keeping within two goals of their top-10 opponent for all but the final two minutes, eventually falling, 12-6.
UCSB is now 1-4 in Big West play and 17-9 overall. Long Beach is 4-1 and 16-6.
Madison Walker made 12 saves in the Gaucho goal, her fifth double-digit performance in the last six matches.
Caitlyn Snyder, Nina Munson, Juju Amaral, Cami Mras, Delaney Palmer and Annie Kuester scored goals for UCSB.
The Gauchos started strong, with Munson giving them a 1-0 lead after the first quarter, and Kuester doubling that advantage in the second.
Caitlyn Snyder made it 3-1 Gauchos a minute before halftime, but the Beach got a goal back before the break.
The hosts scored again to start the third quarter, tying the match at 3-3 and kick-starting a back-and-forth scoring frenzy. By the end of the quarter, it was a 7-5 game, with Long Beach leading.
UCSB did their best to stay close, but the Beach pulled away late, scoring four times in the final two minutes.
UCSB will be back in action in a week, heading to Cal State Fullerton for their first-ever matchup against the Titans on Saturday, April 15. Cal State Fullerton is in their first year as a program, and played (and won) their first ever match at UCSB’s Campus Pool during the 2023 Winter Invite in January.
The ball will hit the water at 1 p.m. on the 15th at the Titans Aquatics Center.