Nov. 12, 2003

IRVINE, Calif. - UC Santa Barbara junior forward Jennifer Borcich was selected the 2003 Big West Offensive Player of the Year and she was joined on the All-Big West First Team by teammates Krystal Sandza and Kristyn Bright, it was announced Monday.

Borcich, who was also chosen the league's Offensive Player of the Year following her freshman season in 2001, earned her third First Team All-Big West honor. She lead the league in goals with 13, points with 33 and shots with 79. Sandza, the 2002 Big West Offensive Player of the Year, is also a three-time First Team All-Big West selection as a midfielder. She scored 11 goals and five assists on the season for 27 points. Both Borcich and Sandza surpassed the 40 goal mark for their careers this season, becoming just the third and fourth player in UCSB history to achieve the feat.

Bright, who earned Honorable Mention All-Big West honors as a freshman, scored two goals and one assist from her defensive midfield position.

Senior forward Alma Martinez and junior forward Randi Johns were named Second Team All-Big West. Martinez had four goals and three assists for 11 points and Johns tallied four goals to go along with a team-high eight assists for 16 points. UCSB defenders Heather Allen and Molly Martin were honorable mention all-league selections.

Cal Poly's Sierra Simmons was named the Big West Defensive Player of the Year and the Mustang's Greta Shirdon was chosen the Goalkeeper of the Year.

UCSB finished the 2003 season with an overall record of 11-6-4 and a Big West mark of 5-2-2. The Gauchos won five in a row before losing on Sunday in the Big West Conference Tournament Championship game to Cal Poly, 2-0.