The UC Santa Barbara Men’s Soccer team’s unbeaten start to conference play came to an end in the state’s capitol on Saturday, as the Gauchos fell to Sacramento State, 3-1.
Zac Siebenlist scored the goal for Santa Barbara.
It was an ugly start for Santa Barbara, as a defensive miscue led to them giving up a goal inside the first five minutes, and goalkeeper David Mitzner was called into action twice more before 10 minutes had elapsed, making a one-on-one stop to shut down a breakaway and later sprawling to his left to make a save.
Trailing by just one thanks to their goalkeeper, the Gauchos did take control of the game after the 10-minute mark, with Siebenlist providing the equalizing goal in the 13th minute.
Ocean Salari created the chance with a crafty run down the right flank, then fired a low cross into the penalty area. Siebenlist met it a few feet from the near post and just had to re-direct the ball into the back of the net to square the game at one.
Santa Barbara had nearly all of the possession for the remainder of the half and turned that possession into plenty of shots but were unable to put any more in the back of the net.
The Gauchos out-shot the Hornets, 10-3, in the first 45 minutes, but only two of those Gaucho attempts were on target.
Santa Barbara maintained the upper hand as the second half began, and Caden Vom Steeg managed to test the Hornet goalkeeper 10 minutes into the second period of play, but the Gauchos again struggled to find openings in Sacramento State’s defense, which had nearly everyone behind the ball.
The Hornets were happy to just play for counterattacks, and both of their second-half goals came on breakaways, one in the 59th minute and another in the 68th.
Sacramento State then spent more time on the ball once they had that two-goal lead, limiting the Gauchos to just one more shot on target before the final whistle.
Zac Siebenlist’s 13th-minute goal was his second of the season and the first away goal of his collegiate career.
Saturday afternoon’s defeat is just the third time that the Gauchos have lost to Sacramento State since the Hornets joined The Big West in 2012. All three defeats have been in Sacramento.
Saturday was the first time this season that the Gauchos have conceded three or more goals in a game. The last time Santa Barbara went 14 or more games into a season without conceding three or more goals was 2022.
UC Santa Barbara returns to Harder Stadium, where they are still unbeaten this year, for their final two regular-season home matches next week, hosting CSUN on Wednesday night and Cal State Fullerton on Saturday night. Both matches will kick off at 7 p.m.