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SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Freshman midfielder Sophia Vivar's first career goal for the UC Santa Barbara women's soccer team was golden, as it helped the Gauchos earn their first victory of the 2021 regular season 1-0 in overtime on Friday night at Harder Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Following a fairly even first half, the Gauchos dominated possession in the second half, creating 13 shots in the second frame.
- Most attempts were from distance, but the team's efforts did yield to some of the better opportunities of the night. Junior forward Jessica Wright forced a save out of goalkeeper Katie Price with an effort that was redirected around the post in the bottom left corner of goal in the 53rd minute and Vivar nearly had her game-winner come much sooner with an opportunity that was tipped over the crossbar in the 89th minute of the game.
- The golden goal finally arrived for UCSB in the 97th minute of play. Off of a throw-in deep in the visitors' final third, junior defender Emily Johnson battled for the ball and played it forward to the feet of freshman forward Leila Emmerson, who dribbled towards the endline and sliced it to Vivar just outside the top-right corner of the six-yard box, where she roofed it into the net with her right foot to give the Gauchos their first win of 2021.
QUOTABLE
- "We have not been able to take [Vivar] off the field because she's incredibly fit and she's one of the best soccer players that we have. We've been able to play her in four different positions - attacking midfield and any of the three positions up top. She, along with [freshman] Shaye Douglas - [who has played] outside back, wide striker, attacking center midfield - is so mature for the time that she's spent in this program." - UCSB head coach Paul Stumpf on Vivar and Douglas.
NOTABLE
- The Gauchos have kept opponents shutout for 257 minutes and nine seconds of consecutive game time, last conceding in the 40th minute of the season opening 2-0 loss against Iowa State on Aug. 19.
NEXT UP
- The Gauchos travel north to face San Jose State on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. The game will be streamed live and live stats will be available, with links to both on the women's soccer schedule page at UCSBGauchos.com.
Season tickets are currently on sale for the 2021 women's soccer campaign at UCSBGauchos.com.
UCSB is moving to mobile ticketing beginning this season. For more information, click here.
