Returning starter Olivia Howard had a goal and an assist in the first half, leading the UC Santa Barbara women’s soccer team to a 3-1 win over British Columbia’s Trinity Western in a preseason exhibition match on Saturday night at Harder Stadium.
Howard, a junior forward who started 17 matches in UCSB’s run to the Big West Championship last season, fed sophomore Caitlyn Simons for the first goal of the match in the eighth minute. She made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute, finishing a pass from junior Sophia Moness
Dakota Watterson, a sophomore transfer from Pitt, made it 3-0 nine minutes into the second half off an assist from sophomore returnee Isabella Ong.
Trinity Western avoided the shutout, scoring on a penalty kick in the 83rd minute.
UCSB officially opens its season Thursday with a home match against Loyola Marymount. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
