The fog was thick at Harder Stadium this weekend, but the minds of the UCSB women’s soccer players were clear. Their goal: a strong preseason finish going into Big West Conference play next week. The result: a win and a tie, both shutouts.
The Gauchos (5-4-1) started the weekend with a 3-0 win over #18 Arizona State Friday night. After a quiet first half, UCSB poured in three in the second frame. The game-winner came from senior forward Randi Johns, while sophomore forwards Allie Kueny and Chandi Bickford got in on the scoring as well.
Junior goalkeeper Jamie Considine recorded her second shutout of the season, making four saves on the Sun Devils’ eight shots. Arizona State keeper Kim Bingham faced 17 Gaucho shots, making nine saves.
“Friday night, we just came out intense,” Considine said. “We were focused, I was focused. I was sick and I just wanted to come out to win and get shutouts.”
Sunday night, Considine and the Gaucho defense continued their shutout streak, battling to a 0-0 tie against San Diego State University.
“We’ve been preaching, ‘Offense wins games; defense wins championships,'” UCSB Head Coach Paul Stumpf said. “We’ve given up two goals over the last five games. Our goals-against average is getting better and better.”
Both teams played physical, trading chances throughout the first half. UCSB had several scoring opportunities, including a shot off the crossbar for Kueny, but after 45 minutes of play the teams remained tied.
Returning from the locker rooms, the Gaucho defense faced a re-energized San Diego State team. UCSB got its chances as well, taking eight shots in the second half, with two missing just high over the goal.
With the tie still intact at the end of regulation, the teams headed into two 10-minute “golden-goal” overtime periods.
Although the Gauchos dominated overtime, they were unable to put one in the back of the net. After 110 minutes of play, both defenses were able to chalk up a shutout, finishing with the tie.
“We missed a couple of opportunities to put the game away. I think some of our finishing wasn’t particularly great,” Stumpf said. “But that’s a very good defensive team. They were stepping in and winning balls; they were very physical. So I would say by and large it was a very good weekend for us.”