In what might have been the most surprising result in DIA rugby this past weekend, UC Santa Barbara defeated Cal Poly 27-22.

UCSB went into the game not ranked in DIA or by Goff Rugby Report, while Cal Poly went into th game ranked #20 in DIA and #27 among all DI teams by Goff Rugby Report.

Cal Poly led early thanks to a try from prop Nathan Sylvia, but the Gauchos replied five minutes later with a try from prop Ki Wan Sung. Flyhalf Cameron Gerlach converted for a 7-5 lead. 

The Mustangs edged ahead with a penalty kick from flyhalf Corey McGrillen. But once again, UCSB replied, with scrumhalf David Jenkins going over. Gerlach converted and UCSB led 14-8. Cal Poly would not go away and a try from their outstanding prop Connor Cudeback made it 14-13, and McGrillen converted to give his side a one-point lead.

Gerlach slotted a penalty to put UCSB back ahead 17-15 at halftime.

It was tied the rest of the way, too. Gerlach gave his team a little bit of breathing room with a penalty a few minutes into the second period, but about midway through the half Cal Poly No. 8 Dustin Mollard went over. McGrillen converted and the Mustangs led 22-20.

Once again UCSB replied, and wing Osvaldo Ordonez sped in for a try, and Gerlach's conversion made it 27-22.

There were still 15 minutes left in the game, but neither team could score, and the Gauchos held on. 

"Huge win for the boys this year and the program in general," said UCSB Head Coach Tim Lewis. "All the California Conference should be ranked in the Top 20, but there are three distinct levels; at the top you have St Mary's then Cal Poly and SDSU, and below that everyone else in the league. UCSB has been working hard for five years to step up to that second level. By beating Cal Poly we proved to ourselves we can do it."

UCSB also recorded a nice non-conference win over Cal State Long Beach this season, and they bat Sacramento State 41-20 in February. And while they were beaten convincingly by Santa Clara and San Diego State, they also scored over 20 against those teams. 

"We will build off this win and look to bring more consistency to our game next year," said Lewis. "The whole club right down to our B-side bag holder deserves credit for this win."

Blindside flanker Logan Ahlf, who has battled and battled to to get to the A-side made the 1st team against SDSU and was one of the top players against Cal POly.

"[Saturday] my illustrious UCSB rugby career came to an almost unbelievably perfect, fairytale ending as we secured an unprecedented, massive upset 27-22 victory over Cal Poly at home in Harder Stadium," said Ahlf.

Captain and senior openside flanker David Cota is a solid leader, and he and Gerlach were big contributors, as well.