LA JOLLA, Calif. - The 11th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team battled No. 8 UC Santa Barbara tough through four periods, but ultimately dropped a 9-7 decision to the visiting Gauchos in a non-conference matchup Friday night at the Coggan Family Aquatic Complex. UCSD pulled within a goal twice in the final quarter, but could not come through with the tying score.

Sean Castillo, Milos Golic, and Noah Smith scored two goals apiece to lead the way for UCSB (9-6), while Steven Donohoe, Peter Gresham, and Ryan Allred each tallied two scores for the Tritons (9-10). UCSD suffered its second loss to Santa Barbara this season after falling to the Gauchos 15-12 on the opening day of the Triton Invitational September 5.

"Our defense definitely played well enough to win the game," head coach Denny Harper said. "You hold a team like Santa Barbara to nine goals and you're going to have a chance, but again, it was our offense that didn't come through. UCSB is very good team and they've been in a lot of battles and we saw that again tonight. We just didn't make the plays we needed to down the stretch."

Trailing 7-5 heading into the fourth quarter, the Tritons cut the deficit to just one on a goal by Gresham 38 seconds into the period. UCSB answered on its next possession, taking an 8-6 advantage on a score by Smith.

Gresham scored again with 4:10 remaining to bring the Tritons to within one once more, but the Gauchos took advantage of a UCSD ejection and Golic converted to put the visitors back in front by two.

The Tritons had their chances in the final two and a half minutes, but costly turnovers on their last two possessions sealed the win for UCSB.

UC Santa Barbara jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after goals from Golic and Smith in the first period, before Donohoe got UCSD on the board with a successful penalty shot. The Tritons and Gauchos would then trade scores before Catilllo's goal with 1:27 remaining gave UCSB 4-2 advantage after one.

The Gauchos led 5-3 after a low scoring second quarter and maintained their two-goal lead after both teams scored twice in the third.

Following their annual Alumni Game on Saturday, the Tritons will return to competition on Friday, October 23 when they travel to UC Irvine to battle the Anteaters at 7:00 p.m.

UCSB 9, UCSD 7
UCSB 4-1-2-2 = 9
UCSD 2-1-2-2 = 7

1st Period
7:10 Golic (UCSB) 0-1
6:27 Smith (UCSB) 0-2
6:08 Donohoe (UCSD) 1-2
4:56 Shoemaker (UCSB) 1-3
4:00 Donohoe (UCSD) 2-3
1:27 Castillo (UCSB) 2-4

2nd Period
5:29 Plume (UCSB) 2-5
4:05 Allred (UCSD) 3-5

3rd Period
6:35 Vincze (UCSB) 3-6
6:03 Allred (UCSD) 4-6
3:11 Castillo (UCSB) 4-7
1:23 Roberts (UCSD) 5-7

4th Period
7:22 Gresham (UCSD) 6-7
6:59 Smith (UCSB) 6-8
4:10 Gresham (UCSD) 7-8
2:46 Golic (UCSB) 7-9