Box Score SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara men's soccer team earned a second straight shutout to open Big West play on Saturday, defeating CSUN 4-0 at Harder Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos (7-2-2) were in complete control from the outset, taking the lead just 3:12 into the match on a Matador (4-3-3, 1-1-0) own goal.
UCSB 1, CSUN 0 – Matador Own Goal 4'
A ball sent across the box from left to right skipped over to sophomore forward Rene Pacheco with about 10 yards of space between him and the closest CSUN defender. Pacheco tried to pick out Alexis Ledoux on a near post run, but a Matador stuck his leg out and deflected it into the worst possible spot for the visitors, sneaking just inside the post before goalkeeper Cooper Wenzel could stop it.
Santa Barbara kept the pressure on and would be rewarded with a two-goal lead just before halftime.
UCSB 2, CSUN 0 – Finn Ballard McBride 42' (D. Phanco)
Freshman midfielder Dominick Phanco, who has done very well with increased playing time of late, played a long ball ahead to forward Finn Ballard McBride. The junior got past one defender with an excellent turn as he made his way into the box. He timed his next move exceptionally well, using the end line as an ally and showing remarkable control to keep the ball in play. As he approached the post at a tight angle, he fired a perfect high shot straight into the top of the net past the last two Matadors in his way, doubling the Gauchos' lead
UCSB 3, CSUN 0 – Rene Pacheco 54' (D. Phanco)
After contributing to the game-opening own goal, Pacheco would be credited with his first goal of the season in the 54th minute. A weak CSUN clearance fell to Phanco who gave a tidy pass to Pacheco in the heart of the defense. Pacheco took one dribble and went for goal from about 24 yards out, curling in a stunning strike into the top right corner.
UCSB 4, CSUN 0 – Finn Ballard McBride 74' (S. Ayinla)
On the Gauchos' final goal, Filip Basili played a corner in that found Salaudeen Ayinla for a header. His shot bounced to the far post where a Matador had to save it off the line, but there was Ballard McBride in the exact right place to stick his leg out and roll in his second goal of the day.
Junior goalkeeper Leroy Zeller was called on to make four saves, all in the second half.
NOTABLE
- This was the Gauchos' first win over the Matadors since Oct. 20, 2018. UCSB was 0-2-1 against CSUN since then.
- After a slow start to the season as he recovered from nagging injuries, Ballard McBride secured his first brace of the season and third of his Gaucho career. He is now UCSB's leading goalscorer this season with six goals in 11 games, currently good for second in the conference. He leads the Big West with three goals during league play.
- Ayinla earned his first start of the season and played well in the Gaucho midfield, earning his first career assist and tying Ballard McBride for the team-lead with three shots and two shots on goal. However, he was booked in the first half and again in the 79th minute to receive UCSB's first red card of the season.
QUOTABLE
Tim Vom Steeg on the match...
"We started out great. We hit more balls over the top tonight and just started on our front foot. We've been kind of waiting for Finn to come alive. That was unbelievable what he did in the sideline, world class right there. A lot of guys got their first minutes and contributed. Dom [Phanco] saw a lot of minutes tonight. Salau [Ayinla] unfortunately got a red card but he came alive tonight as well. Overall, we won 4-0 in front of a really good crowd and we were dangerous and got goals, so it was good."
Finn Ballard McBride on the match...
"The main goal this week was to be a little more direct running and playing more balls in behind the defense, and I think that worked quite effectively. We had more opportunites, more crosses going forward and that eventually led to four goals. I had kind of a slow start to the season, but now I'm on six goals, so it's good for the confidence to get rolling."
NEXT UP
The Gauchos will play their first Big West road game this coming Wednesday, Oct. 5 at CSU Bakersfield at 7:00 p.m.
