No. 16 UC Santa Barbara Cuts Women’s Water Polo’s Comeback Bid Short

Shannon Purcell netted a goal at No. 16 UC Santa Barbara as the Crimson opened a six-day, five-game trip to California (photo courtesy Harvard Athletic Communications).

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Harvard women's water polo team opened its spring break trip to California with a loss to No. 16 UC Santa Barbara March 11. The Crimson erased a three-goal deficit, but eventually fell, 10-9, to the host Gauchos.

UCSB (12-10) started the match strong, scoring the first three goals and not allowing Harvard (8-6) to get on the board during the first quarter.

The Crimson quickly answered with three goals of its own to tie up the score in the second frame. UC Santa Barbara regained the lead, 4-3, but Harvard once again evened the score, 4-4, just before halftime.

The Gauchos had its second three-goal run to start the second half and pulled ahead, 7-4. Harvard scored two of the game's next three goals, but entered the final eight minutes down, 8-6. The Crimson scored the first goal of the final eight minutes to cut UCSB's lead to one, but the Gauchos immediately found the back of the cage to make the score 9-7. Harvard tallied two more scores in the period, but UC Santa Barbara netted one to claim a 10-9 decision.

Harvard was led in scoring by Aisha Price's hat trick, her ninth of the season. Devan Kennifer and Monica Zdrojewski each added two goals.

The Crimson continues its California trip at Whittier March 12. The contest is slated for a 6 p.m. (EST) start.

No. 16 UC Santa Barbara 10, Harvard 9
Goals
Aisha Price 3
Devan Kennifer 2
Monica Zdrojewski 2
Shannon Purcell 1
Shayna Price 1

Assists
Shannon Purcell
Devan Kennifer
Elise Molnar
Shayna Price 4 

Steals
Aisha Price
Shannon Purcell 2
Devan Kennifer 2
Elise Molnar
Monica Zdrojewski 2
Shayna Price

Saves
Ariel Dukes 6