Box Score SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Lynsee Voss scored her first goal of the season in the 18th minute to lead the UC Santa Barbara women's soccer team past UC Davis 1-0 in the Big West Conference opener at Harder Stadium on Friday night.
UCSB (8-4, 1-0 Big West) snaps a two-game skid with the win while UC Davis (3-6-2, 0-1 Big West) is now winless since Aug. 31, having gone 0-4-2 in September.
The Gauchos took control of the match from the outset, dominating possession and creating multiple opportunities in the attacking third early on.
In the 18th minute, Santa Barbara found the back of the net on Voss' first score of the year. Shaelan Murison started the play as she battled to maintain possession in the corner. After breaking away from her defender, Murison raced along the end line and sent a pass into the box that Madeline Gibson allowed to go through her legs on a heads up play as a pair of UC Davis defenders closed in. The ball made its way to Voss, who juked her defender with a one-touch to her left and fired into the top right corner of the goal just above the keeper's outstretched arms.
The Gauchos outshot the Aggies 13-4 in the first half and continued their offensive pressure in the second period. Christine Maurer tallied back-to-back near misses in the 66th and 67th minute and Murison nearly made it a two-goal advantage with a breakaway shot that was denied by a desperation dive from the UCD keeper.
Despite its handful of chances to break the game open, UCSB played solid defense to shut out UC Davis and hold on to a 1-0 win.
The Gauchos outshot the Aggies 21-7 while holding a 7-5 advantage on corner kicks. Murison tied her season-high with eight shots, including four on goal, to lead all players in the game. Maurer finished with five shots and Mallory Hromatko tallied two for UCSB. Hanna DeWeese recorded five saves between the sticks.
Santa Barbara heads out on the road for a three-game trip beginning with a match next Friday, Oct. 5 against UC Irvine at 7:00 p.m.
