Scoring goals is something the UCSB women’s soccer team has not had trouble doing all season.

At least not until this past weekend.

Despite out-shooting Sacramento State by a margin of 17-3 on Friday night, the Gauchos (4-5-1) were only able to tally one goal on the scoreboard to come away with a 1-1 tie.

“It was very frustrating to not be able to score more goals against [Sacramento State],” sophomore forward Kelsey Bollinger said.

Although Santa Barbara was able to maintain possession of the ball from the beginning of the game, the Hornets managed to score first. Sac State’s lucky break came in the 15th minute of play when Kristin Hoffman managed to slip a right footer past UCSB senior goalkeeper Mary Gleason.

That appeared to be a wake up call for UCSB, which only one minute later found the back of the net for a score- a play that looked good for the future of Santa Barbara soccer. A three-way freshman connection made this goal possible. Forward Erin Griswold lobbed a pass to forward Jen Borcich from the penalty box. From there, Borcich set up midfielder Krystal Sandza with a flawless cross ball. Sandza finished the play by putting the ball into the upper left region of the net.

But that was all the offensive production the Gauchos could muster in the remainder of the contest.

On Sunday, UCSB traveled down to Malibu to battle Pepperdine (7-0-3), a team that was determined to protect its undefeated record. Not only was this a big game for Santa Barbara, but the contest was the final tune-up before the beginning of Big West play. The game was also the Gauchos’ big chance to show critics that they can compete against some of the top programs.

The Gauchos struggled with offensive production for the second game in a row and were shut out by the Waves 1-0.

“We definitely saw this game as our opportunity to prove ourselves,” Bollinger said. “Unfortunately we just didn’t score on the opportunities they gave us.”

Pepperdine came out of the blocks flat, giving Santa Barbara plenty of chances to score. But the Gauchos failed to put the ball in the net during this slow Wave beginning, and Pepperdine was able to find its flow.

“Pepperdine really moved the ball well,” senior midfielder Brianna Preis said. “We should have done a better job of keeping the ball on the ground and not in the air.”

The Gauchos were able to play the Waves evenly throughout the game. However, Pepperdine’s big moment came in the 24th minute of play when Kate Desmond notched her third goal of the season on a break-away score. Santa Barbara was knocking on the back door for the rest of the game, firing nine shots on the Pepperdine goal. But Wave goalkeeper Lindsay Brouillette came away with a brilliant seven-save performance to keep the Gauchos scoreless and to seal the victory for her team.

A constant for UCSB’s team has been its defense, which is something it will count on going into Big West play next weekend. Though the Gauchos’ record does not display the capability of this year’s squad, the team remains confident that it will turn things around in conference play.

“What’s most important is that league starts next weekend,” senior captain and midfielder Kathryn Fox said. “We haven’t done as well as we hoped in the pre-season, but I really feel that we will bring it together for league.”