UCSB, San Jose State Can’t Find Finishing Touch, Draw 0-0

Despite possessing a 15-8 advantage in shots, UC Santa Barbara was held to a scoreless draw by visiting San Jose State on Sunday afternoon at Harder Stadium.

The Gauchos (0-0-2) and Spartans (0-0-2) each played their second consecutive double OT tie to open the 2019 regular season. In Thursday’s opener, UCSB and Minnesota played 110 minutes ending in a 2-2 tie.

The match between Santa Barbara and SJSU was a physical one as the squads combined for 33 fouls, 20 of which were by the Spartans.

UCSB had its share of dangerous chances, including a handful in the second half of overtime. In the 104thminute, Shaelan Murison worked her way inside the 18-yard box and unleashed a shot from straightaway, but the ball was blocked. Cate Post found took the deflection and attempted another shot that was wide. Murison had another shot in the 106th minute that went high.

In the first overtime, in the 92nd minute, Murison curled a free kick from near the left corner towards the goal, but San Jose goalkeeper Ariana Romero tipped the ball off the crossbar.

Murison, who had 10 goals as a junior in 2018 and scored one in the team’s opener against Minnesota, finished with a game-high eight shots, four of which were on target. Angelica Ortega added a pair of shots, both on frame. In all seven different Gauchos attempted shots, but Romero was up to the task with five saves.

“It feels like a loss because I just don’t think we were as good on the ball as we can be,” said Gaucho head coach Paul Stumpf. “That’s the downside. That’s why we feel a little down right now, but we’ll take the point, learn from it and we’ll move forward.”

UCSB’s Hanna DeWeese saved all four of the Spartans’ on-goal shots. The visitors had seven different players with at least one shot, Alison Gallant led the way with a pair.

The Gauchos return to action with their third straight home contest on Friday, Aug. 30 when they play Cal in a 5 p.m. match at Harder Stadium. Following the women’s match, the UCSB men’s team will host UNLV in their regular season opener at 7:30 p.m.