SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Sometimes the bounces just go the other team's way. That is more or less what happened to the UC Santa Barbara Men's Soccer team on Wednesday night, as a late score propelled the visiting Cal State Bakersfield to a 1-0 victory. Both teams had opportunities with the ball bouncing around in front of the other's goal, and it was the Roadrunners who capitalized on theirs to score the decisive goal.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
While each side went about the game differently, the two teams were pretty evenly matched, with each having moments of dominance throughout the game, but neither controlling the full 90 minutes outright. When the Gauchos had success, it came from maintaining possession and remaining patient on the ball. When the Roadrunners had success, it was from their stout defensive line and rapid counterattacks.
 
By having more of the ball, UC Santa Barbara created more opportunities to take shots, out-shooting Cal State Bakersfield 5-1 in the first half and 8-2 in the second, 13-3 overall. In turn, the Roadrunners' defense remained difficult to break down, meaning only two of those 13 Gaucho shots required saving.
 
The Gauchos' best scoring chance of the evening was denied by Roadrunner goalkeeper Brandon Limes, who tipped Nicolas Willumsen's arcing shot onto the crossbar in the 21^st minute. The ball actually bounced back off Limes toward the goal, but stayed out. It was the first of a few unlucky bounces for UC Santa Barbara. Following a corner kick late in the second half, a low cross rattled around in front of the Cal State Bakersfield goal, but none of four Gauchos in the area could put a foot to it. A Roadrunner defender cleared the ball off the goal line and to safety.
 
Only a few minutes later, in the 86^th, Cal State Bakersfield got a corner of their own at the other end of the pitch, which resulted in a similar goal-mouth scramble. The Gauchos cleared the initial danger, but not to safety. A Roadrunner got the ball and fired a shot into the far bottom corner for what would be the decisive goal.
 
UC Santa Barbara threw everything forward in the final minutes of the match, and Salvador Aguilar had a great chance to tie the game in the 89^th minute, rising to meet a cross, but his header flew over the bar.
 
UP NEXT
The Gauchos head up Highway 101 to San Luis Obispo for their next match, the second leg of The Blue-Green Rivalry against Cal Poly. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 15. Fans traveling to the game are advised to arrive early. Those following from afar can watch the action on ESPN+ and the live stats, available through ucsbgauchos.com.