UCSB Gauchos—and The Big West—On The Rise In CWPA Varsity Women’s Polo Poll

Serela Kay and her UCSB Gauchos have gotten off to a fast start this season. Photo Courtesy: Minette Rubin

Before the 2019 season started, women’s water polo at the University of California at Santa Barbara might best be considered a middle of the pack contender for the Big West title and, with it, an NCAA tournament berth. The Gauchos, coached by Serela Kay, finished fifth last year after a 16-13 campaign that saw them drop regular season matches to Big West rivals Hawai’i, Long Beach State and UC Irvine.

So far this season Kay—now in her fifth season at UCSB—has watched her squad become the darlings of the still-young women’s season. With five victories at last week’s Cross Conference Challenge, including a scintillating 11-10 win over host Arizona State, the Gauchos are 9-1 and clock in this week as #7 in the current Collegiate Water Polo Association’s women’s varsity poll, a rise of three spots from last week and a jump of an even 10 from their pre-season rank of #17.

Freshman Amanda Legaspi has been a force for the Gauchos. Photo Courtesy: Tony Mastres

The win over then #7 ASU, spearheaded by Amanda Legaspi’s hat-trick, was the Gaucho’s first over a top-10 opponent since a 7-5 decision over then #5 Hawai’i in 2016, when UCSB’s last qualified for NCAAs. The freshman, a standout performer at Bonita High School in La Verne, CA, has already notched 18 goals to launch her Gaucho career. Legaspi is one of 10 newcomers to Kay’s line-up, including Caitlyn Snyder, whose sister Sarah is UCSB’s leading scorer with 21 goals. Backstopping the victory over the Sun Devils was junior Kenzi Snyder; after 22 starts in the Gauchos’ cage in 2018, Snyder—no relation to Caitlyn or Sarah—looks to be the primary goalie in a tandem with sophomore Becca Buck.

One indicator of UCSB’s fast start was a closer-than-expected 6-4 loss to #3 UCLA in the team’s first weekend of play. The two teams were tied at the end of three when the Bruins got three straight scores to open the fourth and tag the Gauchos with their only loss of the season. Now UCSB will travel to San Diego for the Triton Invitational and four matches over Saturday and Sunday.

The other big performer in the polls last week was Hawai’i—UCSB’s rival in The Big West—which is now #5 in the country thanks to its decision over Arizona State, a week ago and wins over #13 Loyola Marymount and #20 UC San Diego. The Rainbow Wahine also dropped a tough decision to UCLA, 12-8 last Friday where the Bruins sprinted out to a 7-2 lead and held off a second-half comeback behind junior Elyse Lemay-Lavoie and freshman Alba Bonamusa Boix. Head Coach Maureen Cole’s squad is now off for two weeks, when they’ll face #25 Azuza Pacific.

Sandwiched between the Rainbow Wahine and the Gauchos are the Anteaters of UCI, who clock in at #6 in this week’s poll. Head Coach Dan Klatt’s squad is 3-1; of course, the one loss was to UCLA in the squads opening match of the season. UCI will be tested at the Triton Invitational, and may face the Gauchos tomorrow depending up seeding.

What’s exciting for the conference is that it’s emerged as the country’s second-best to the dominant Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). The nation’s top four squads continue their long-term residence at the top of the polls; a non-MPSF team has not broken into this upper quadrant since Michigan slipped in after an NCAA final four finish in 2016.

Stanford’s Mackenzie Fischer has been absolutely brilliant this season. Photo Courtesy: Catharyn Hayne

#1 USC (8-0) had the weekend off but will be back in action tomorrow at the Triton Invitational, where they will open against Pomona-Pitzer in the first of four matches in San Diego. Last weekend at the Stanford Invitational, the #2 Cardinal (6-0) decimated three ranked opponents, including Michigan 21-9 and #4 Cal Berkeley 17-10. Leading the way for Head Coach John Tanner were junior Mackenzie Fischer (29 goals in 6 games) and freshman Madisen Stamen (16 goals). As if they are trying to match Trojan dominance, the Cardinal have outscored its opponents 130 – 38—that’s an average of almost 22 goals a game. After so much scoring, Stanford will rest up on The Farm in anticipation of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational.

Despite a couple of close calls, #3 UCLA (10-0) remains unbeaten. A narrow 9-8 win over LMU Saturday morning was followed by a 11-8 over #15 Fresno State. The best news for a young Bruin squad has been the continued good health of Maddie Musselman (19 goals), who hit for five goals against the Bulldogs—her second five-goal explosion in six appearances. Freshman Val Ayala (18 goals) and junior Bronte Halligan (10 goals) are chipping in, but goalie Carlee Kapana remains a key contributor for Head Coach Adam Wright’s squad, stopping 57 opponent shots, second in the MPSF to USC’s Amanda Longans.

Due to a seven-goal defeat to rival Stanford, the #4 Golden Bears of Cal sustained the first—and so far only—loss of the Big Four. More potential losses loom at the Kalbus tournament, which will include the nation’s best teams, but tomorrow Head Coach Coralie Simmons’ team hosts #10 Pacific in a rematch, and will then travel next weekend to face #11 UC Davis. Sophomore Brigit Mulder (12 goals) and junior Emma Wright (11 goals in 3 matches). Unfortunately, the loss to the Cardinal suggest a yawning gap between the two teams—a deficit that Simmons will need to bridge if her squad wants to find its way to an NCAA final.

Cal’s Coralie Simmons and her Golden Bears will have to dig deep this season. Photo Courtesy: Peter Trabucco

Rounding out the nation’s top ten, #8 Michigan (3-4) dropped the match to Stanford and also lost 12-11 to UC Davis but also beat Pacific. The Wolverines come back to California, this time for the Triton Invitational, where they will face #21 Cal State Northridge and three other squads. The Sun Devils (5-2)—who have dropped from #5 in the opening poll to #9 due to upset losses to Hawai’i and UCSB—will also look to pick up some wins in San Diego. The Tigers of Pacific (2-2) sit at #10 in the polls; Head Coach James Graham’s squad will face Cal tomorrow and then rest up for the Kalbus Invitational in two weeks.

The rest of the nation’s top 25 remains relatively unchanged with one noteworthy addition; Bucknell clocks in at #24 after a 3-1 opening weekend at the Bruno Classic. The Bison’s lone loss was a taught 10-8 affair with #18 Wagner after Head Coach Jack McBride’s team had knocked off then #20 Marist 11-7. They get to continue a fast start this weekend hosting the Bucknell Invitational, with matches against La Salle, Salem and Siena as well as a rematch against the Seahawks.

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Tommy Kosturos

5 years ago

Andrew Moran go gauchos!!

Andrew Moran

5 years ago

Reply to Tommy Kosturos

Tommy Kosturos

Karin Knudson O'Connell

5 years ago

Jill Fusari