Women’s Soccer opens final Big West season undefeated

The UC Santa Barbara Women’s Soccer team opened its final Big West season with a 2-2 draw against California State University, Long Beach on Wednesday and a 1-0 win over California State University, Sacramento on Saturday at Harder Stadium. 

The Gauchos entered conference play with high expectations after getting picked to tie for first with California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo in the Big West preseason coaches’ poll. Both teams received 100 points, with UCSB receiving four first place votes. The Gauchos also entered the conference schedule on a five-game undefeated streak after finishing non-conference play 5-1-3. 

UCSB began the week against Cal State Long Beach, which was also picked to finish near the top of the conference. The Gauchos struck first in the 13th minute when junior forward Chayse Yu found sophomore defender Hailey Tyacke, who put UCSB ahead 1-0.

Cal State Long Beach responded five minutes later, but the Gauchos regained the lead right before halftime. Freshman forward Alondra Talamantes broke through the Beach backline to score her first career goal with 47 seconds remaining in the half.

“I was feeling so grateful that my team was there and supporting me,” Talamantes said. “My first reaction was to hug all of them because at the end of the day I’m doing it for them. I was just really happy, and I felt blessed.”

Long Beach eventually tied the game in the 71st minute, but senior goalkeeper Maddie Buckley had already come up with a big save. After Cal State Long Beach was awarded a penalty kick in the 65th minute, Buckley guessed correctly to keep the Gauchos ahead.

Cal State Long Beach outshot UCSB 18-8 and put 10 shots on goal, but Buckley made seven saves to help the Gauchos hold on for the 2-2 draw. The result extended UCSB’s home undefeated streak to 10 matches and its overall undefeated streak to six. 

“I think on the real positive side of things, we defended very well and we scored multiple goals on a very talented team,” Head Coach Paul Stumpf said postgame. 

Three days later, the Gauchos returned to Harder Stadium to face Sacramento State in their second conference game. 

UCSB outshot the Hornets 8-5 in the first half and earned three corner kicks, but neither team was able to score before halftime. The Gauchos continued to create chances early in the second half, and in the 58th minute, senior defender Emily Caughey converted a penalty kick to give UCSB a 1-0 lead.

Sacramento State had several opportunities to score, including a shot that hit the crossbar in the 51st minute, but Buckley made three saves to keep the Hornets scoreless. UCSB held onto their 1-0 lead through the final whistle to earn its first conference victory.

The win also gave the Gauchos their first shutout since Aug. 23, when they defeated the California State University, Fresno Bulldogs 4-0.

Now 6-1-4 overall and 1-0-1 in Big West play, the Gauchos will travel to face California State University, Bakersfield on Wednesday.