The Santa Barbara Olympic Development Academy kicked off its 2016-17 campaign Thursday with a surprise defeat of the touring New Zealand Institute of Sport.

Santa Barbara kept the Kiwis on the back foot all match with their physicality and pace at the breakdown, winning the game 32-24.

A jarring hit by by winger Jimi Alvarez (Peninsula Green) saw outside center Moni Tongauiha (Oakland Warthogs) dive on the loose ball for the opening try six minutes into the match. Flyhalf Herald Hernandez (Central Washington) added the conversion. The Kiwis answered right back with a try of their own off the ensuing restart, picking off an ambitious Santa Barbara pass to touch down under the posts. A successful conversion brought the score to 7-7 with barely eight minutes off the clock. Hernandez would connect on a penalty infringement by the New Zealand to put Santa Barbara up by three, and the Kiwis would storm back with a slick backline move coming off a maul to take their first lead of the match. 

Hooker Pepe Semeraro (Dixon, Calif.) put in a bruising run that left several defenders in his wake as he touched down left of the posts. The Academy dotted down again just before halftime, as Man-of-the-Match and center Austin Kiel (British Virgin Islands) outpaced the defense for the first of his two tries. This put Santa Barbara in front 22-19 at the half.

The Academy started the second stanza much like the first, with Austin Keil and Luke Malek-Zedah both touching down to seal the victory.   

“I’m very happy with our performance today “ said Coach Kevin Battle.  “For our first run of the season,  I was impressed with our intensity and accuracy at the break down.  We have plenty to work on but anytime you get a win over the Kiwis, it’s a pretty special day.”

Santa Barbara ODA 32 New Zealand Institute of Sport 22

Tries: Keil (2) Semeraro, Tongauiha, Malek-Zedah

Covs: Hernandez (2)

Pen: Hernandez