The #8 Gauchos (12-8 overall, 3-4 in the MPSF) squandered an early four-goal lead and eventually lost 8-7 in overtime to Arizona State on Sunday. It was the first time in program history that #18 ASU (6-12 overall, 2-5 MPSF) has defeated a team ranked in the top eight nationally, and only the second time that they have defeated a top-10 team, with both wins coming against UCSB.

“ASU is ranked 18th, so obviously it was a big upset,” UCSB Head Coach Danielle Altman said. “We had an early lead, but we turned the ball over too much and they capitalized on our mistakes.”

After leading throughout the game, UCSB gave up the tying goal with 5:33 remaining in the fourth quarter. Neither team scored again until the first overtime, where both the Gauchos and the Sun Devils netted a goal.
Following another ASU goal, the Gauchos got one last chance when freshman Lindsay Llewellyn drew a four-meter penalty shot with only 48 seconds remaining. However, UCSB was unable to convert the shot, as Caylinn Wallace recorded her school record 22nd save of the game.

“Lindsay had a phenomenal game. She did a great job of drawing the four-meter, but we just weren’t able to score,” Altman said.

Llewellyn and sophomore ZiZi Clark each scored two goals, and Mica Bell, Katy Kunkel, and Alaina Whitaker added a goal apiece for the Gauchos. Junior goalie Christy Medigovich, who is ranked second in the MPSF in saves per game, came away with seven saves.

Despite looking overmatched against several other MPSF opponents, the Sun Devils continue to give the higher-ranked Gauchos problems. Last season, the Gauchos lost to ASU at home, giving the Sun Devils their first ever win against a top-10 team. The Gauchos and Sun Devils also went to overtime in the season-opener, with UCSB coming away with an 8-7 win.
Sunday’s game in Tempe, Ariz. marked the fifth game in a series of seven consecutive road games for the Gauchos. All five games so far have been decided by one goal, with the Gauchos winning twice and losing three times.
“Every team is hard to beat at their own pool, but we could be playing better. We can always play better,” Altman said. “We have to play much better on the road, especially since 50 percent of our games are road games.”
The away games continue next week as the Gauchos will travel to Stockton to take on MPSF opponent Pacific before heading to Berkeley to play #7 Cal.