SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Senior midfielder Ashley Dean scored her first collegiate goal in the 82nd minute to lead UC Santa Barbara to a 1-0 win over crosstown rival Westmont College in a season-opening exhibition at Harder Stadium on Saturday night. 

Dean's breakthrough in the second half saved a result for a Gaucho side that dominated possession against the Warriors but couldn't produce a goal. UCSB ended the contest with a 10-3 advantage in shots, including a 5-1 edge in shots on frame. 

"It was a very good first effort from our team," said UCSB head coach Paul Stumpf. "We were able to get a lot of different players into the game and did some good things as a team. The result and the shutout were just an added bonus. The coaching staff was also able to identify a couple areas we are excited to work on in practice next week to get prepared for the regular season."

The decisive goal came off a set piece, with senior forward Hannah Dearborn flicking a free kick from the deep left wing to the far post. Eventually, the ball rattled around in the box and found its way to the feet of Dean, who ripped a shot into the upper right corner. 

The Gauchos put the clamps down after going ahead, holding Westmont without a shot for the final 10 minutes of the contest. 

Forward Amanda Ball was also impressive for UCSB, dribbling around and through defenders in the final third on multiple occasions. The junior narrowly missed getting her head on a cross from within the six-yard box in the first half for what likely would have been a goal. 

Westmont's two best chances both came at the hands of forward Maddi Berthoud, who had a pair of shots off partial breakaways.

Midfielder Destinee Adams had the Warriors' lone shot on goal, but that was easily stopped by senior Jacq Caginia, one of three UCSB keepers to play in the tilt. Sophomore Brittney Rogers started the game and freshman Hanna DeWeese played the final 15 minutes to earn the win. 

UCSB, which was picked to finish second in the Big West Conference, opens the regular season next Friday, Aug. 19 on the road at Fresno State.