Toughest schedule in USLIA history?

by **Rudyfan** on Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:46 am

Santa Barbara's next few weeks have to rank among the toughest ever scheduled. Even though most games are home, to play 6 of the top 9 ranked teams in the country in 5+ weeks has got to be some kind of record. In the group are every team that has beaten the Gauchos in the last two years, and all but one has played them to 1-goal games. If memory serves, they have lost to CSU, Michigan and BYU, while squeaking by Sonoma, CSU, Colorado and Michigan in tourney and other games. UCSD has played them tough, but neither game the last 2 years was close. Starting with #5 BYU tomorrow night, the Gauchos face #2 CSU 3 days later, #4 Michigan on March 4th and then #9 UCSD at the 1st Four in San Diego on the 11th. Most expect that to be a very close match. 2 weeks later, they travel to Sonoma to play their top ranked WCLL nemesis, and finish at home 2 days later with #8 Colorado. Quite a gauntlet for this young team to navigate.

With all that, this Gaucho team will probably take its lumps, but I'd much rather play UCSB now than at the end of the season. By tourney time, barring further injury, they should be a much stronger, more veteran squad. In late March, they get one of their veteran long poles back, and possibly, one of their leading scorers from last year at attack. One of their starting middies has been playing with one arm, and their most experienced defender has been banged up and missed the Cal Poly game. Their goalie has virtually no previous game experience, and they have been relying on Freshmen and transfers at all 3 defender and one attack position. When Damon moves to the back, another Frosh takes his long pole middie spot. So far, these newbies have come through with great clutch performances, but can they keep it up against the veteran players on the schedule? By April, we'll have a pretty good idea.