SANTA BARBARA, Calif.- The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos women's soccer team was able to get a huge win against Blue-Green rival and and preseason Big West favorites Cal Poly by a score of 4-0.

The Mustangs (5-6-5, 1-3 in Big West) were favored to win the league by the preseason coach's poll, but came into Harder Stadium with just a 5-5-5 record. However, the Gauchos (9-4-1, 2-1 in Big Weset) played as if they were the favorites as they were able to dominate Cal Poly offensively.

"This was a great win for our program," said head coach Paul Stumpf. "I have to credit our staff for preparing the team and making some adjustments. I really have to credit the team for executing the game plan, weathering a few storms and handling some physical play."

The Gauchos got the scoring started early after Dakota Griggs crossed a corner kick to the far post that found Kate Shoemaker who was able to head it in past the Cal Poly Keeper. That was Shoemaker's second goal on the season and it was a big one to set the momentum for the Gauchos.

The Mustangs were unable to capitalize on a few of their crosses into the box during the first half, but a close call came with just over seven minutes left when Cal Poly sent a low cross into the box. A Gaucho defender attempted to block the cross, but the ball took a strange hop off of her leg and hit the left post. Gaucho keeper Beth Ritter was able to grab the deflection out of the air and kick the ball up field.

The second half was all Gauchos.

The Gauchos scored a beautiful goal as Savannah Francis sent in a cross from the left side that reached teammate Amanda Ball who was able to head in her second goal of the season at the 68:02 mark to take the 2-0 lead. The seven goals are the most by a UCSB freshman in 14 years.

Cal Poly midfielder Emily Hansen received a red card after a dangerous slide into a Gaucho player that put Cal Poly down a player on the field which didn't help their chances at making a comeback.

UCSB wasn't done yet. Hannah Dearborn stole the ball from the Cal Poly defender which led to a two-on-one attack with just the Cal Poly keeper. Dearborn was able to get the pass across to Jessica Parque on the left side of the goal who put the ball into the empty net to give the Gauchos the 3-0 lead at the 76:53 point of the second half.

Minutes later, Parque returned the favor by sending in a cross that found Dearborn on the far right post and she was able to header the ball into the bottom opposite corner to give the Gauchos the 4-0 lead at the 79:26 mark.

Besides the offensive domination, the Gauchos were also able to shut down Cal Poly on defense as they helped Ritter achieve a shutout. 

The Gauchos will travel to UC Davis to take on the Aggies on Sunday Oct. 18 at 1pm.