MONTREAL (June 15, 2023) — The UC Santa Barbara Men's Soccer team is set to begin their summer with a trip north of the border, heading to Montreal and Ottawa for a week of sightseeing, training, and friendly matches. The Gauchos will play a total of five matches against semi-professional clubs on next week's trip, while also exploring the cities and their respective rich histories.

On the pitch, Santa Barbara will meet Montreal's CS St-Hubert for a doubleheader in their first action of the trip on Tuesday, June 20. Before leaving Montreal, the Gauchos will also play a doubleheader against fellow Ligue 1 Québec side AS Laval on June 21. In Ottawa, Santa Barbara will play their fifth and final match of the trip, taking on a side from Club des Collines on Friday, June 23.

Off the pitch, the team will have the chance to explore, taking tours of both cities. In Montreal, they will also visit the Notre Dame Basilica, a staple of the city's history, and take a jet-boat ride along the Saint Lawrence River, including through the Lachine Rapids. The Gauchos will be on the water again in Ottawa, taking a boat tour along the Rideau Canal, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also in Ottawa, the team will visit the Canadian War Museum.

The Gauchos, who finished the 2022 campaign with a 10-4-6 record, have already played five games in their spring season, and will use this trip to further prepare for their upcoming 2023 campaign.