Box Score SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The quest for a fifth consecutive Big West North Division title came to an end on Wednesday night after the UC Santa Barbara men's soccer team battled to a scoreless draw against Sacramento State at Harder Stadium on Senior Night. The Gauchos needed a win to keep pace with UC Davis, who defeated Cal Poly on Wednesday, and ultimately clinched the North Division.
After playing in its seventh overtime match, and fourth scoreless draw this season, UCSB (6-6-5, 4-2-3 Big West) still holds a one point advantage in the standings over Sacramento State (8-7-2, 4-3-2 Big West). Both teams will be fighting for the No. 2 seed on Saturday and with it, the right to host the Big West Tournament Quarterfinal match on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
Prior to the match, five seniors in Seo-In Kim, Alex Liua, Randy Mendoza, Omar Montalvo and Josue Salgado were recognized for their contributions to the UCSB men's soccer program over the past four seasons.
After a quiet first half that saw limited opportunities from both sides, UCSB started to take over control in the second half, outshooting the Hornets 5-1.
It appeared as if the Gauchos got the goal they needed in the 58th minute after Kim played the ball up to Rodney Michael in the attacking third, who then found Ignacio Tellechea, who tapped it in to the goal, but UCSB was called offside on the play.
Pressing on the offensive end, the Gauchos earned three consecutive offside calls after that play and kept creating chance after chance.
In the 77th minute, it was Tellechea again, this time with a header in the box that hit off the crossbar.
In the first overtime period, UCSB earned three consecutive corner kicks, one of which led to a scramble in the box and a close range shot from Jonah Adomakoh, but the Gauchos were unable to convert.
Kim registered the only shot of the second overtime for either team and UCSB is now 2-0-5 in overtime matches this season.
The Gauchos outshot Sacramento State 11-3 while dominating the corner kick margin 7-0. Kim, Michael and Tellechea finished with two shots apiece to lead the offense for UCSB while Alan Carrillo and the UCSB defense registered its seventh shutout of the year.
UCSB wraps up the regular season with a Blue-Green Rivalry match at Cal Poly this Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7:00 p.m.
