By David Russo

Many UCSB students enjoy tossing around a Frisbee at the beach, and some have turned that hobby into a competitive sport for an hour each week. Jon Cass, a third-year graduate student in UCSB’s Mathematics PhD program, is also in his third year of playing Intramural Sports. This quarter, Cass leads an Ultimate team, “Little Jon and His Merry Men & Women,” that is currently undefeated in the Coed Advanced league.

“I started playing Intramurals Sports when I first got to UCSB [in 2008],” Cass said. “One of my friends had come to UCSB the previous year and invited me to play on a team. I played with that team for a little while, but then some of the players left town and the team dissolved.”

After that, Cass didn’t have much continuity with one team for a while.

“I spent the next year or so bouncing around between teams and just playing whenever I got the chance,” Cass explained. “Then in the spring of last year, [former graduate student] Ariana Arcenas organized a team out of people who play pickup together when there are no Intramural Sport games going on.”

Arcenas’ team made a run for the championship last year.

“We did well last spring, and only lost in the finals,” Cass said. “[Arcenas] graduated at the end of last year, so I decided to keep the team going into this year.”

Cass talked about how he fits Ultimate into a schedule that includes research in algebra and number theory, with an emphasis on elliptic curves and Stark's conjectures. 

“As a graduate student, my schedule is very loose,” Cass said. “I teach for a few hours a week, and have class for a couple hours a week, but most of my time is spent reading, thinking about, and researching mathematics on my own schedule.

Cass explained that despite certain challenges, participating in Intramural Sports is definitely worth his time.

“It is not difficult to fit intramurals into my schedule, however it is sometimes disruptive if I am in the middle of a marathon grading schedule, or am finally making some headway in my reading,” Cass said. “That [being] said, I find that it is very important to make the time - the intramural games are an opportunity to work hard in a different way and interact with people that I would not see otherwise.  My head is always much clearer after a good game of Ultimate.”

Cass talked about the dynamic players on his team and how they have come to play well together.

“Our team has a vast range of experience levels,” Cass said. “Some people have been playing for over ten years and have competed at high levels, while others have just started this year. We only meet as a team for the games, but I know that many of the players look for opportunities between games to meet up and practice throwing.”

Overall, Little Jon and His Merry Men & Women has proven to be a fun and rewarding team for Cass lead.

“One of the aspects of my team that I am happiest about is our ability to welcome new players, while still maintaining a high level of play,” Cass said.  “I know that when I show up for games, I will get the chance to learn from players who are far better than I am, and also teach some players who are just getting started.”

The team is currently 6-0, with one game left before playoffs.

“I believe that we will remain undefeated through the rest of the games, but that remains to be seen,” Cass said.

The past game on February 25 against “The Plastics,” also undefeated at the time, proved to be a good test for both teams, with Little Jon and His Merry Men & Women prevailing.

“[That] game was very memorable,” Cass explained. “We played in the pouring rain, with no subs [as not everyone showed up because of] the rain.  We had a great game, and I hope we get the opportunity to play against them again in the playoffs.”

WHEN: March 7 – April 1
WHERE: Rec Sports Office

You Continued the Legacy during winter, now Capture the Legacy this spring by signing up for spring Intramural Sports! Take advantage of the quarter with the best weather by joining one of the most popular programs offered by UCSB Recreational Sports!

We offer 18 different sports this spring including softball, basketball, water polo, and indoor/outdoor soccer. There is a sport for everyone and no experience necessary.

Greek? Make sure to sign-up for the Greek Gauntlet on March 7 & 8th!

Sign-up between March 7^th and April 1^st in the Rec Sports Office. Be one of the first 100 students to sign up and receive a free wristband, putting you in the running to get Caught on Campus. If you’re caught, you’ll win a FREE Rec Sports tank. Spots go fast, so sign-up early!

By Lisa Gray

Do you still need to plan your 2011 Spring Break? Do Cabo and Puerto Vallarta sound too overdone and unoriginal? Do you want to learn new skills in a unique outdoor experience? Every year, UCSB Adventure Programs offers spring break opportunities perfect for gauchos who said yes to all the above. Whether you’re partial to snowy wilderness, desert-like hikes, or refreshing rivers, there is something for everyone. This year, for all outdoor enthusiasts who want a more intense experience, Adventure Programs proudly presents the Wilderness First Responder course. Trips are open to everyone, and thanks to Rec Sports and students’ initiatives, students may enjoy reduced rates. Spots are limited, so head to the Rec Cen cashier’s office to sign-up now!

Colorado River Canoe Trip
Saturday, March 19th - Tuesday, March 22nd

What better way to learn canoeing than by paddling up the Colorado River for the weekend? Even if you already feel comfortable in a canoe, experiencing the serenity of traveling through the Black Canyon, lined by breathtakingly high cliffs, is incomparable to your average river canoe trip. In fact, all skill levels are encouraged to join the experienced trip leaders, who are more than willing to teach or perfect canoeing skills. The three day trip begins at Willow Beach and ends at the Arizona Hot Springs campground for some rewarding relaxation. Round trip transportation, canoeing instruction, canoes and canoeing gear, breakfast and dinners while camping, as well as group cooking gear are all included in the registration fee. You must supply your own personal equipment, lunch and road meals. Sign up now to ensure you will experience one of the best and most beautiful ways to spend spring break on the water.

Backpacking in the Grand Canyon
Friday, March 18th - Thursday, March 24th

The beauty of the Grand Canyon has intrigued mankind for hundreds of years. Despite the constant inflow of travelers, the canyon remains a natural wonder worth exploring. One can’t help but be awed from being “three quarters of a mile in the depths of the earth [surrounded by] walls and cliffs that rise to the world above” (as described by John Wesley Powell). Due to permit scarcity and competition, UCSB Adventure Programs is extremely fortunate to have received permission for five consecutive days of hiking and camping through the main corridor of the canyon.

The group will leave Friday morning for the South Rim of the Canyon. The next five days will consist of eight to ten mile hikes, which require participants to be in good physical condition, preferably with previous backpacking experience. Night temperatures are expected to be cold, with the possible chance of snow, so pack warm! The trip home will include a planned camping stop and arrival to campus early Friday evening. Paying for registration includes round-trip transportation, breakfasts and dinners while camping, camping fees, permit fees and group equipment. Due to permit restrictions there are only nine spaces available for participants, so hurry to secure your spot!

Wilderness First Responder Course
Saturday, March 19th - Saturday, March 27th

For those of you who spend all your time outdoors and aren’t already certified Wilderness First Responders, what are you waiting for? You owe it to your friends and yourself to take this definitive medical training course. Being up to date and comfortable with proper wilderness medical aid is a must for all outdoor leaders and frequenters. A successful completion of the 72-hour course will earn you a Wilderness First Responder and CPR certification card from Wilderness Medical Associates valid for 3 years. All CPR course curriculum taught is consistent with current American Heart Association standards at the healthcare provider level. Register soon to insure your safety on all future outdoor excursions!

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To register or find more information, please visit http://gauchosplay.com/adventure-programs/spring-break-2011. Several of these trips are offered multiple times in a year. Explore the UCSB Adventure Programs website to see what and when the other trips and courses are offered—there is guaranteed to be a course to meet any Gaucho’s outdoor interests.

By Lisa Gray

Spending time getting to know the natural world around you is more than worthwhile—anyone who has enjoyed rock climbing, kayaking, or hiking will attest to that—but it isn’t always easy to arrange or commit to wilderness excursions. The excuses are endless: You don’t know which trails are best, you aren’t sure what equipment canyoneering requires, you can’t find friends willing to climb with you on the weekends… The list goes on and on.

The Leadership Training Course (LTC) leaves you with no excuses. Proudly provided by UCSB Adventure Program staff (all of which are former LTC members), the course offers guided trips, equipment rentals, hands-on training, and enthusiastic friends to join you on your outdoor adventures. Physics major Jacob Staines tells us how the LTC shaped his freshman year of college and helped him make the most of all the outdoor opportunities around him.

Q: Why did you register for the LTC?
Jacob Staines: I was drawn to UCSB Adventure Programs Leadership Training Course [by the] opportunity to learn. There is so much to do out in the mountains or on the sea, you would be hard pressed to go out there and not learn. I wanted to compliment what experience I had with some professional training, as well as develop new experiences.

Q: Now that you’ve spent nearly six months with your fellow LTC-ers, you must have a lot of great memories. Do you have a favorite?
JS: One of the best parts about LTC is the inevitable development of the LTC family. One of my most profound memories from LTC was on the car ride back from our three-day canoe trip on the Colorado River. This trip took place in November, before any classroom sessions had begun. We had set out, for the most part, as complete strangers. We spent three days on the river, and came back more comfortable with each other than some of us were with our roommates.

Q: The LTC consists of an unbelievable amount of valuable hands-on and classroom instruction. Can you tell us a little about the learning experience?
JS: The learning in LTC comes in three forms.

1.    First, we go out with instructors to experience the wilderness first hand. Here we learned to repel, roll kayaks, cook on a camp stove, and countless other hands-on skills and techniques.

2.    Next we would take these experiences with us into the classroom, where we could break down conflicts and scenarios, discuss options, and learn how to problem solve.

3.    Last, through LTC we are given the freedom to go out and use the AP gear on our own time, to further develop our experience, and to put our classroom discussions to use.

Q: Now that you’ve nearly completely the course, how would you say the LTC has changed your daily life?
JS: What I feel I have developed most drastically is my outlook that the world is out there waiting for me. If I want to spend my Thursday morning rock climbing, all it takes is a desire, some friends who share that desire, and a little planning to make it happen. LTC has helped me to develop all three of these aspects.

Q: It seems you have definitely made a lot of friends and memories. Would you say the LTC has affected your social life as well?
JS: LTC has had a greater role in my social life than any other aspect of college thus far. I have gotten to know everyone in the class on some level, and most have become very close friends. There are people from the UC, the CC, and from the surrounding residence, all of whom I can seek and interact with on my own time. Indeed, some of my closest friends were those who I first met in LTC. I feel that describing LTC as anything less than a family does not do it justice.

Q: The LTC is considered training for future UCSB Adventure Program staff. Are you considering taking that next step?
JS: I am eager to become part of AP Staff, where I will be able to develop my skills even more, develop my friendships even more, and help others to meet the same goals. Oh yeah, and have a hell-of-a-time doing it!

Q: How would you promote adventure for those who are considering adding some excitement to their life?

JS: The occasional adventure every few weeks fits very nicely into college life. If gives me something to look forward to and to seek passion in, and it gives me the chance to balance my studies with mentally and physically healthy activities. It’s a win-win.

 

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Check out the details at www.recreation.ucsb.edu/adventureprograms/staff.aspx or just visit the MAC to talk to current Adventure Programs staff! Take a course that will change the way you take advantage of the outdoors.

By Brent MacDonald

UCSB Women’s Lacrosse finished the annual Santa Barbara Shootout with an even record of 2-2 this past weekend. Wins came against University of Michigan and Lindenwood University, while the Gauchos lost to women’s club teams from University of Pittsburgh and University of Florida.

“We communicated with each other a lot this weekend,” junior Courtney Choi said. “It’s something we practice everyday and we took it to the field this weekend.”

The tournament opener for UCSB against Michigan was played amidst a torrential downpour of rain, the first of its kind during a women’s lacrosse game this year.

“It was really intense,” Choi said. “There was so much wind…[we played] mind over body and pushed through it. It was a fun game.”

UCSB gained an 8-5 lead at the half, and continued its offensive play throughout the second period. The Gauchos outscored Michigan 3-1 in the final ten minutes of the game with two of its players sitting out due to yellow card violations given during the first half.

“We changed up our attack,” Choi said. “We were still able to get those goals with two less people on the field.”

The second game of the tournament for UCSB was played against Pittsburgh, which had lost its first game of the shootout against BYU. The Gauchos trailed Pittsburgh by one goal at halftime, and saw the lead increase to 7-3 with just twelve minutes remaining. UCSB went on a 4-0 scoring run in the final minutes to push the game to overtime.

With 13 seconds remaining in the extra period, Pittsburgh scored the goal to ensure its victory.

“Overtime is always really difficult,” senior Ashley Antoon-Algieri said. “Our offense wasn’t playing the way they usually do. We needed like five more minutes to come back.”

UCSB’s third game ended with a loss against Florida University. Florida was only up 6-5 against the Gauchos at the half, but went on to outscore UCSB 6-2 in the second period for a final victory of 11-7.

“Florida controlled the ball the whole game,” Antoon-Algieri said. “They’d get it on offense, calm it down and score a really nice goal. We weren’t in the game.”

The Shootout came to an end for UCSB when it faced off against Lindenwood University in both team’s final games of the tournament. Both Lindenwood and UCSB were equally balanced throughout the game as each team took 18 shots on goal. A five-goal run in the first half gave the Gauchos a 7-6 lead at halftime. Another scoring spree anchored a 4-1 run for UCSB in the second period, and finished the game with an 11-7 victory.

Beating Lindenwood allowed UCSB to finish the tournament without going on a three-game losing streak, and served as an important part of the team’s motivation for the season.

“Those two [losses] were our wake-up call,” Antoon-Algieri said. “It’s good to lose early [in the season] and have that wake-up call. We walked off the field satisfied with that last game.”

UCSB will return to the practice field for the remainder of the week in preparation for its game against visiting John Fisher College next Monday February 28 at 12:30 pm on Storke Fields.

By Brent MacDonald

This weekend’s regional races in Lake Tahoe welcome a change in scenery for the UCSB Ski and Snowboard team, which will once again attempt to compete at a high level against schools that are built adjacent to snowy mountains, rather than sandy beaches.

Though UCSB hails from the sunny backdrop of southern California, it is often a surprise to other schools that the team is able to compete at such a high level.

“We do well in our league then go to regionals, and we’re competitive against teams in the mountains,” sophomore Michael Scinto said. “It’s a shocker to most teams that we’re next to the beach then go up to the mountains and still do well in competition.”

UCSB competes against other Southern California teams throughout winter quarter at Mammoth Mountain, and only travels to a different snow resort for regionial and national races. This year’s regional races will be held at Sugarbowl resort in Lake Tahoe. Scinto, a freestyle and slalom skier, participated through both regional races and national races last season, and believes that national competition is the highlight of the ski and snowboard season.

“Last year was one of the best trips of my life,” Scinto said. “I had a really great time and it’s definitely a lot harder of competition but I think we’re up for it.”

This year’s squad has multiple members that have placed in the top two for various races. UCSB’s Kevin Scardigli is ranked second in men’s alpine skiing, while senior Haley Yolken is currently ranked first in the southern California league in the women’s Alpine skiing event. Scinto is ranked second in men’s freestyle skiing.

In comparison to timed-race Alpine events, freestyle races demand more focus on the freedom of tricks and jumps, which attracts much more popularity of competitors. Yolken’s success in the Alpine events is a rarity for UCSB, yet may soon attract attention of its own through her accomplishments.

“Northern California teams are usually better in Alpine events,” Scinto said. “A lot of kids don’t want to race…It’s good to have [Yolken] with a lot of success in racing because they see that if someone can do it, they can too.”

Yolken will anchor a women’s squad that was successful in winning the freestyle skiing event at last year’s national races. The journey to reach nationals this year begins at regional races this weekend, where teams from the northern California league will compete against UCSB for the first time this season, and may have an advantage due to proximity to the mountains.

“There’s a few schools near Tahoe that [can] train everyday,” Yolken said. “Some have campuses five minutes away from the mountain. They’re good competition.”

Teams that hail from colder climates and compete at higher levels will challenge UCSB’s high standings in the southern California league.

“This weekend…is a good preview of what else is out there,” Yolken said. “It puts things into perspective. I might be first in the southern California league, but when you look at all of California I might not be top five.”

Yoken, Scinto and the rest of the UCSB Ski and Snowboard team will try to place in the top two finishers in each event in order to increase their chances of being chosen for nationals. National races take place March 7-12.

“California is one of the strongest states that shows up to nationals,” Yolken said. “We just have to be confident in our abilities and stick to what we know [how to do].”

By David Russo

Student-athlete is a term usually reserved for those who are on scholarship for an intercollegiate team, however, at UCSB, a vast majority of students play on various Intramural Sport teams. Senior computer science major Josh Castaneda leads six different Intramural Sport teams this quarter: two Indoor Soccer teams, and four Outdoor Soccer teams. “OK Team Awesome Go,” a team in the outdoor Men’s A league, may be the best of all, currently boasting a 4-0 record with an aggregate score of 15-1.

Castaneda says that a lot of his motivation for playing soccer is his aspiration to coach.  Already experienced in coaching San Marcos High School’s freshman team in 2009-2010, leading them to a .500 record.

“That was the most fun I’ve had doing work,” Castaneda said. “To be a role model is really cool … you have to balance being stern but really nice.”

Castaneda would like to see where similar positions might lead him.

“I’d love to coach the US National Team,” he said. “I don’t necessarily need to get that far, but I want soccer to be part of my profession. It would be cool to become a trainer or coach for a club team around [Santa Barbara].”

Then he added that coaching isn’t actually his number one goal.

“Coaching comes second to being a superstar,” Castaneda remarked.

He mentioned Dutch forward Robin van Persie, from his favorite team Arsenal, as the player he admires most.

“He scores so many nice goals,” Castaneda said. “He’s left footed but also skilled with his right foot. [As a forward], I consider myself a very watered down version of him.”

Castaneda started playing soccer when he was four years old, and hasn’t stopped since.  He played on Covina High School’s team and the past three years on UCSB Intramural Sport teams. Former student Eliot Rodgers, who played with Castaneda on past Intramural soccer team, is credited with giving him the idea to form a team from the people he has gotten to know from his former teams.

“Eliot inspired me to manage and coach,” Castaneda said. “Last quarter I decided to make my own team.”

Now he leads a diverse team of friends, including mechanical engineering graduate student Blane Rhoads, senior John Hoyer, junior James Kiffe, who plays on the Gauchos’ Division I team, and senior Ted McCrea, who plays on the Sports Club team.

“I got into the IM scene just by playing,” Castaneda said. “Learning how to manage came from coaching [San Marcos]. Managing a team is difficult but fun, you get to choose who you want to play with. You need to find a balance between who you like and who can play.”

Castaneda said that usually at least three extra players show up for a game.

“The only stressful part is when more people show up and I have to decide who the subs are … hopefully nobody leaves next quarter,” he said. “I definitely plan on having a team.”

With the team’s dominance this quarter, Castaneda said the most memorable game so far was their first game, which they won by one goal.

“They didn’t have as much talent but they played as a cohesive unit,” he said. “We’ve been growing as a team [to play cohesively as well] … everybody expects to win, and with that comes trust. We have a positive cycle of communication and chemistry knowing what each other is going to do on the field.”

With Intramural games five days a week, Castaneda explain fitting in with school with his schedule.

“I’ll miss a game for a midterm,” he admitted. “I’m not going to neglect my studies. But I try not to have late classes so I have room for Intramural Sports. Fun, fitness, friends. That’s what they are for.”

By David Russo

A group of graduate students who devote countless hours of research to their field may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Intramural Sports players.  However, for PhD graduate student and team captain of The Blasters Chris Evelyn, Intramural Basketball is an important part of balancing studies with play.  Evelyn earned his masters at UCSB’s Bren School of Environmental Science and is now in his fourth year in the department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology researching the evolution of salamander species in California.

“[I’m] trying to get a handle on what it takes to develop and complete an original research project at a high level,” he said. “As any graduate student can tell you, this is a long road often full of setbacks and a lot of lessons learned.”

On the court, his team is providing the lessons. The Blasters are currently 3-0 in the MA-1 league, winning by an average of almost 40 points per game. However, the team is not playing for wins and losses.

“We just want one good game a week,” Evelyn said. “We look forward to playing hard.”

Evelyn played at Loyola Marymount for four years, walking on as a freshman and eventually getting a scholarship as a senior. Other grad students on the team with prior playing experience are Finn Rebassoo from Occidental College, Justin Clark from Iowa, Jason Green from Northern Oklahoma College, Mollique Johnson from Southern Connecticut State, and William Clay from Mississippi Valley State. Duncan Kennedy and Chris Burton, the only undergraduates on the team, played in high school.

Rebassoo was named the 2003 outstanding male senior scholar-athlete at Occidental.  Rebassoo finished second on Occidental’s all-time scoring list with 1,562 career points and was the 2003 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Evelyn also explained how he isn’t the only one with a PhD research project. Rebassoo is working on an experiment at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland, Clark is completing research on Socratic philosophy, and Clay recently finished a project on Boolean networks in mathematics.

“You wouldn't necessarily know that they also excel on the basketball court,” Evelyn admitted.

This group of students came to form an impressive team simply by playing in the Rec Cen on a regular basis.

“There has been a pretty consistent group of undergraduate and graduate students who play in the Rec Cen the past few years,” Evelyn said. “Our team is really just a group of great people who are all unselfish players. It's great to run around with a group of guys who just love to play ball and really know how to play.”

Despite their full schedules as grad students, the team understands that participating in sports is important to make time for.

“IM's and playing basketball in the Rec Cen have been great ways to build community with undergraduate students and other graduate students,” Evelyn said. “Many graduate students don't do too much besides study during the week so the social aspect of seeing the same group of guys each day has been great. It also helps my mental health to get some exercise each day and leave the stresses of the day behind for an hour or two.”

Despite frequently playing together in the Rec Cen, this is the first quarter they formed an Intramural Basketball team.

“We all know each other and this year we decided it would be fun to form a graduate student team before a few of us finish here at UCSB,” Evelyn said. “Clark, Rebassoo, Clay, and I have known each other for years so it's surprising we didn't do this before now.”

Playing Intramural Sports has proven to be a good decision for them.

“It's fun for all of us to get together and play in a different setting compared to our daily runs in the Rec Cen,” he said. “It’s fun for us to play with more structure.”

The team plays so well together thanks in part to practicing together on Saturday mornings.

“We made it out a couple of times but it's been tough,” Evelyn said. “School or life has gotten in the way the last couple weeks but hopefully we can get out there again soon.”

By Ben Chodos 

It is Thursday night at the Rec Cen. The usual sounds of sneakers squeaking on the gym floor and balls colliding with nets are present. But tonight, basketball players are not causing all the clamor. The shoes and voices making noise belong to the faithful few who show up for Intramural Table Tennis on Thursdays between seven and nine in the evening.

Many people have played ping pong in their basement or in a friend’s backyard, but few have played Table Tennis. The difference between the two games is a matter of standards, uniformity, and language. Table Tennis is the sport’s official name, advocated by USA Table Tennis, an organization that hosts nationwide competitions. However, in China, where the game has widespread popularity, it is called Ping Pong. There are regulated rules for the American Table Tennis competitions, whereas driveway ping pong games, can have “all kinds of crazy rules,” according to Adam Hurwitz, a third year Global studies major and Intramural Table Tennis participant. These rules state that games are played to eleven, and servers alternate every two points, and the ball must be tossed six inches in the air on all serves.  Trickery while serving is necessary as some serious Ping Pongers are able to determine how the ball is spinning by the looking at or hearing an opponent serve.

Three students separated themselves from the pack during competition, and by no coincidence, these three players have experience with competitive Table Tennis. Andrew Berman, a grad student at UCSB, learned to play from his dad and played in USATT competitions. Peng Zheng, a first year Economics major, played competitively in China. Lastly, David Ellerton, who is obtaining a Ph.D. in Religion Studies, also played in USATT competitions, but had not picked up a paddle in sixteen years before coming out for Intramural Table Tennis a couple weeks ago.  By the end of the night, Berman had beat Ellerton but lost to Zhang.  But Zhang lost to Ellerton, leaving no tangible way to determine a clear champion for the week.

Besides the impossible spin on their serves, their perfect form, and their unflappable composure during matches, one other aspect made these three stand out: their paddles. These finely crafted instruments were all custom made to fit each Sultan of Spin’s specific style.  The paddle rests so comfortably in each Rally Master’s hand that it seems like they were born holding it.

Despite the esteemed pedigree of these three Barons of the Backhand, they fit in as just another student in the jovial and relaxing atmosphere of Thursday night Intramural Table Tennis.  The games always contain friendly chatting and lead to odd discoveries as Connor Oakes, a third year Political Science major found out.  “David [Ellerton] played competitively against my sister,” Oakes said.  Between the lively conversations and the competitive matches, these Pharaohs of the forehand will be causing a racket at the Rec Cen every Thursday night.

 

 

 

 

 

By Brent MacDonald

Season openers are often one of the most exciting games for a team, especially when the match is held on a home field. For UCSB women’s lacrosse, the anticipation about its home opener has been felt for months.

“Practicing is super fun…but it’s no comparison to an actual game,” senior attack Ashley Antoon-Algieri said. “When all the adrenaline is pumping through you…it’s exciting.”

Gaucho women’s lacrosse began its season this Saturday with a home match against Claremont College. Prior to the game, UCSB’s record against Claremont was an undefeated 3-0 over the past three years, with each of the three wins coming by a margin of two goals. Claremont College women’s lacrosse is a Division 3 athletic team, which means it is both school sponsored, and nationally ranked. These are two qualities that UCSB women’s lacrosse lacks, yet neither of which had an effect on the outcome of the game.

“Worst case, we lose to a great opponent,” Antoon-Algieri said before the game. “Best case, we strut our stuff and we win.”

It was the first official match of the season for UCSB, as the only competition the team has seen thus far has been an alumni game during fall quarter in November, and inter-squad scrimmages during practice.

UCSB was dominant throughout the match, beating Claremont by a score of 21-11. Nine players scored at least once for the Gauchos, and Antoon-Algieri led the team with five goals and five assists. Junior Maegan Cruse scored five goals as well, in addition to three assists.

“It always helps to start with a big win,” Antoon-Algieri said after the game. “We were focused and we had a lot of fun.”

A new addition to UCSB’s practices has been a rigorous strength-training regimen, implemented in one-hour sessions during two practices per week. The training program has already shown improvement in many players, and the team looks forward to exploiting the benefits of the hard workouts.

“If you train slow you’ll be slow, if you train fast you’ll be fast. The way you train is the way you play,” junior defender Courtney Choi said. “A lot of girls have been pushing themselves a lot harder and it’s showing.”

The game against Claremont was the first of four games leading up to the annual Santa Barbara Shootout, which is scheduled for the weekend of February 18-20. A record 64 teams will participate in the 23^rd annual event, which will bring over 2,500 athletes, coaches, referees and family members to the sunny setting of Santa Barbara.

“It’s a lot of great players in one spot,” Antoon-Algieri said. “It’s our favorite tournament of the year…it’s a great venue and a lot of girls enjoy it.”

Both the weeks leading up to the tournament and the shootout itself will provide UCSB with the game time experience that it has been training for since fall quarter. However national championship games won’t be played for months,

and the Gauchos know that the game against Claremont is only the beginning of a long season.

“We’re preparing ourselves for more competition,” Choi said. “We need to focus on each game before moving to the next one.”