If last week's win over previously No. 4-ranked Michigan was big, then the Laxcats' game Sunday at Laxcats field against the current No. 4 University of California Santa Barbara will be huge.

"It's too big for words," head coach Adam Hopkins said. "It is our season."

Sunday at 7 p.m. the Laxcats (8-1, 4-0) will play UCSB in a conference game that will most likely determine the WCLL Division A South Champion.

"This is our biggest game of the season," junior defenseman Jeff Kinsella said.

"We beat Michigan who was a preseason No. 4, but they (UCSB) are a legitimate No. 4 team," Hopkins said.

UCSB (6-0, 2-0) is coming to Tucson after beating Virginia Tech 12-6 Wednesday in Santa Barbara. The Gauchos moved up a spot from No. 5 to No. 4 in the national rankings this week as a result of the UA win over Michigan last week.

Junior midfielder Ben Schooler leads UCSB in scoring with 22 points, but the Gauchos also get a lot of scoring help from freshman attackman Luke Wilson and sophomore attackman Hank Caulkins.

The Laxcats beat UCSB last year in a 10-9 thriller in Santa Barbara.

"We beat them last year," Kinsella said, "so I'm sure they'll be gunning for us."

According to Hopkins it will take all the Laxcats have to beat the Gauchos.

"(It will take) our best game. We have to be very disciplined and we have to win the ground balls."

"We must play within ourselves, get back to the basics and play our hard-nosed style," Kinsella said.

The Laxcats are led by senior attackman Jay Spatafora, who has been scoring almost at will this season and is coming off an eight-point performance last weekend.

Spatafora currently leads the WCLL in total goals (27) and total points (46), while being in the top five in assists and second in points per game (5.11).

"Honestly, (his play) doesn't surprise me," Hopkins said. "It's an impressive showing, but it is what I expected."

"He can take over a game when we need him to," Kinsella said.

The UCSB game will be the last one before spring break for the Laxcats and one that has added importance.

"A win will give these guys the attitude they need for the second half of the season," Hopkins said. "But at the same time, being a young team, a loss could be detrimental."