The #12 Gaucho women’s water polo team will head to Los Angeles on Friday to play against #7 Loyola Marymount. The women will also play their last home game of the year Sunday at Campus Pool at noon against #11 San Jose State.

“We are really excited about these games,” freshman utility Zizi Clark said, “With our history of playing up to teams that are ranked higher, we are definitely capable of beating them.”

Santa Barbara currently holds an overall record of 12-13 and a Mount Pacific Sports Federation record of 2-6, and though Friday’s game is not an MPSF match, it is still important to the Gauchos. Last year the Gauchos lost to Loyola 7-3 and this year they are determined to persevere.

“It will be a good match up,” Head Coach Danielle Altman said. “The outcome depends on how we play from that first whistle. It’s a matter of coming out strong offensively.”

Sunday will be an even more important game for the Gauchos, especially for senior goalie Erin Enriquez since it will be her last home game.

“It is always hard losing seniors, and Erin contributes so much” Altman said.

This will be bittersweet for the Gaucho women since it will be their last home game with Enriquez, but it also marks the season’s close finale. After a tough loss last year with a score of 10-6 the Gauchos will try to reclaim victory with their home court advantage.

“We are all really pumped up for this game. It will be a good game to see, and I am really excited for it,” Enriquez said.

On the heels of a 7-5 victory over UC San Diego, Santa Barbara is determined to keep their season going.
“We have been practicing a lot and really looking forward to this game,” Clark said.

After these two matches the women only have two MPSF games before the championships in May.