The good news about the UC Santa Barbara men’s soccer team after its two home matches against top-ranked opponents: the Gauchos outshot both teams and didn’t lose.
The not-so-bad news: the matches ended in 1-1 draws.
Steinar Bjornsson scored his first goal as a Gaucho in the 78th minute and that enabled UCSB to come away with a draw against a solid University of San Diego squad before 1,272 at Harder Stadium on Monday night.
Bjornsson beat the Toreros’ 2025 WCC goalkeeper of the year, Lucca Adams, with a left-footed strike to the far post. The goal came after USD defenders blocked three Gaucho shots in the penalty area.
“I’m very happy. I felt like that goal was coming,” said Bjornsson, who assisted on the game-tying goal in last week’s 1-1 tie against Marshall and had four shots in Monday’s game. “Honestly, after that goal came, I thought we were unlucky to not get another one.
“It was a very scrappy goal, you know, but I’ll take any goal I can get.”
Like the Marshall game, the goal the Gauchos conceded came via a first-half penalty kick.
San Diego senior forward Steven Ramirez converted the PK in the 12th minute after referee Brandon Stevis ruled that UCSB standout goalkeeper Owen Beninga fouled Ramirez as the two went after Luca Fava’s crossing ball at the top of 6-yard box.
It was a 50-50 ball that Ramirez managed to get his left foot on for a shot before he and Beninga collided.
The referee’s decision, which he reviewed on video, baffled UCSB coach Tim Vom Steeg.
“Really. It’s a bang-bang play on a cross and the guy shoots it wide, and then (the referee) calls like a follow through,” said Vom Steeg. “He shot the ball. It wasn’t like he got touched by the goalie and got fouled. The shot got off and (Ramirez) shot it wide and then he ran into the goalie. Where’s our PK?”
The Gauchos created good scoring chances after USD (2-1-1) got on the board. In the 16th minute, defender Simone Ferrieri crossed to Kaden Standish in the box for a wide-open header but the midfielder hit it wide. A minute later, forward Donovan Sessoms fired a shot on goal that was saved by Adams. Sessoms then stole the ball deep in the Torero end and sent a cross from the right side that was smothered by Adams.
In the 43rd minute, Peleg Brown hit a free kick on frame that was saved. Kalle Rahbek put a header on target in the 66th minute that Adams stopped.
The Gauchos outshot San Diego 21-11.
“We were saying it’s been 47 shots in two games for two goals,” said Vom Steeg, referring to the combined shot total and the number of goals scored from the USD and Marshall games. So, the good news is 47 shots against two top teams. But, you know, we got to start burying some things.”
UCSB (1-0-2) takes to the road for its next three matches, playing at Cornell in New York on Friday, Rutgers in New Jersey on Sunday and Grand Canyon in Phoenix on Sept. 12.
