2013 UCSB Winter Invite Home Page
VIDEO: Santa Clara's Alison Norris and coach Keith Wilbur preview the weekend
Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Top 20

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Redshirt freshman Julia Peters (San Jose, Calif. / Presentation HS) scored four goals and drew three penalty shots as the Santa Clara women's water polo team took 8th-ranked Loyola Marymount to the limit at the 2013 UCSB Winter Invite on Saturday afternoon in Santa Barbara. It marked the opening day of the 2013 season for SCU. 

In a game which was tied in the final moments, No. 8 LMU scored twice in the closing stages to escape with a 14-12 win. LMU is the reigning Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Champions and the Lions are picked to win the league again this spring. 

"I think we were physical, swam up and down with (LMU) and played good team defense," said SCU head coach Keith Wilbur about nearly upsetting the Lions. "I think everyone on the team played very well. The longer we played with them the more we believed. We had a few bar-outs late and we got a bit tired in the fourth quarter, committing a couple of careless turnovers. Those led to a pair of counter-attack goals but overall very encouraging."

Peters stepped up, and despite being a freshman, played like one best two meter offensive players in the conference. Her presence in front of the cage helped SCU play even with LMU throughout. Claire Eadington (Corona Del Mar / Corona Del Mar) and Elle Surber (Pleasanton, Calif. / Amador) each added a pair of goals while Surber also distributed three assists, as did Jamie Swartz (San Diego, Calif. / Scripps Ranch).

Earlier in the morning, it was No. 19 UC San Diego – the projected WWPA runner-up - pulling away from Santa Clara to post a 16-8 victory. The Broncos trailed by just two, 10-8, at the end of the third, in a game which was much closer than the final score would indicate.

Senior goalkeeper Stephanie Clements (San Carlos, Calif. / Sacred Heart Prep) - pictured above - saved 10 shots and Eadington had two assists and drew a kick out versus UCSD. The Tritons jumped out and scored two quick goals but the Broncos then played even with UCSD for much of the morning.

"The game got away from us in the fourth quarter," Wilbur said about the season-opening matchup with UCSD. " I think we came out and played really hard, but it was our first game and we were just not organized enough to come out on top against UCSD; give them a lot of credit. Huge difference in the second game though; I thought we came out and finished the day really strong."

Tournament play continues Sunday in Santa Barbara. The Broncos will face yet another ranked opponent in No. 6 UC Irvine at 1:50 p.m. That game follows a morning matchup with Concordia, which begins at 9:10 a.m.

UC Santa Barbara Winter Invitational

DAY 2 – January 26

Santa Clara vs. #19 UC San Diego

Santa Clara Goals: Alison Norris (2) Kaitlin Murphy (2) Erin Sheridan, Julia Peters, Claire Eadington, Laura Burtness
Santa Clara Saves: Stephanie Clements (10)

Recreation Center Pool

Santa Clara vs. #8 Loyola Marymount