SAN JOSE, Calif. - Amanda Ball scored the matches only goal in the third minute as UC Santa Barbara posted its second straight shutout to open the 2017 season, 1-0 over San Jose State at the Spartan Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon.

Ball, who scored a pair of goals in the Gauchos (2-0) 3-0 win over Idaho on Friday night, didn't waste any time in tallying the game-winner against the Spartans (0-2) on Sunday. After UCSB worked the ball in from the corner, there was a scramble in front of the goal. A rebound came out and Ball pounced on it, firing a low shot past goalkeeper Ana Calero.

The score came at the 2:26 mark and that was the last of the scoring as the Gauchos made it hold up.

"This was not our best performance in terms of possession," said head coach Paul Stumpf. "But it was a gritty defensive effort that sealed the shutout."

Maddie Julian, a transfer from Cal who was making her first start at UCSB, picked-up her first win, saving all three shots on goal that she faced. There were only 20 overall shots in the match, 11 by SJSU and nine by the Gauchos. Ball had five of her team's shots. Also, five of Santa Barbara's shots were on goal as opposed to just three of the Spartans.

"Kate (Shoemaker), Chace (Schornstein), Gibbo (Maddie Gibson), Julian (Maddie Julian) and Amanda (Ball) all had good performances," Stumpf said. "I believe we will continue to grow."

UCSB had a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks on the afternoon.

The Gauchos will be off until they travel to UCLA to play a 5:30 p.m. match against the Bruins on Sunday, Aug. 27