UCSB Men’s Soccer Drops Road Matchup with UC Irvine, 1-0

IRVINE, Calif. — The UC Santa Barbara Men’s Soccer team will have to go on the road for The Big West Championship for the first time in three years after dropping a Saturday night contest at UC Irvine, 1-0.

The result confirmed that the Gauchos will not finish as one of the conference’s top two teams and will therefore have to visit either Utah Valley or UC Irvine in a Big West Semifinal on Nov. 7.

Santa Barbara’s place in the conference tournament is not yet guaranteed either. As of the printing of this article, the Gauchos need at least a draw against CSUN in their final Big West next Saturday contest to punch their ticket to the conference’s dance.

The Gauchos did have chances to score early, with Peleg Brown taking a shot from some 35 yards away that came close enough to glance off the far post in the fifth minute. One minute later, Donovan Sessoms was denied from close range by a diving stop towards the far post after a good bit of build-up play.
 
But in the 17^th minute, the hosts scored with their first chance of the game, and once they had a lead, the Anteaters were content to defend with all 11 of their players behind the ball, making it difficult for the Gauchos to create chances to equalize.

Steinar Bjornsson did get enough space to shoot from a relatively good spot in the 32^nd minute, but it ended up as an easy save. And that was the last significant action of the first 45, as Santa Barbara toiled to break down the Irvine block.
 
It was more of the same in the second half, with opportunities but no breakthrough. As the clock ticked towards the hour mark, Zac Siebenlist and Brown both had open shots around 18 yards from goal at the far post but neither was on target.

In the 73^rd minute, Bjornsson launched one of his trademark long shots, but did nothing more than sting the palms of the Irvine goalkeeper.
 
The Gauchos’ challenge nearly became greater in the 74^th minute after a giveaway in defense, but Owen Beninga made the save of the night, sprawling to his left, to keep the game a one-goal affair.
 
Santa Barbara’s attempts to unlock the Anteater defense continued after that scare, with Sessoms turning well and darting into space at the top of the 18-yard area in the 77^th minute, only for his shot to roll harmlessly into the goalkeeper’s arms.

Calle Mollerberg’s extra-long-range attempt in the 83^rd minute suffered the same fate, and there was a missed connection between Bjornsson and Kaden Standish in the 80^th minute.

Standish had gotten into a good spot inside the penalty area and Bjornsson was able to fizz a low cross into his feet, but Standish did not have the timing right to guide the ball goal-wards.

The Gauchos return to Santa Barbara for their final two matches of the season next week. First, the Gauchos will host California Baptist on Tuesday, Oct. 27 in a match that was rescheduled from Oct. 21 due to inclement weather.

On Saturday, Oct. 31, Santa Barbara hosts CSUN for Senior Night and the regular-season finale. At the time of printing, all three of the Gauchos, CSUN and Cal State Bakersfield remain in the hunt for the final two spots in The Big West Championship.