SAN JOSE, Calif. (Aug. 19, 2023) - The UC Santa Barbara Women's Soccer team will travel to San Jose, Calif. to take on the San Jose State Spartans in their second match of the season. The two teams met last year at Harder Stadium and played to a 2-2 draw.
Over the last seven contests, the Gauchos and Spartans have played very even with UC Santa Barbara leading the series 2-1-4. Over the last seven matches, the Gauchos have narrowly outscored the Spartans 7-6.
SCOUTING THE GAUCHOS
UC Santa Barbara opened up their 2023 campaign with an exciting 2-0 victory over Loyola Marymount on Thursday, Aug. 17. The Gauchos saw goals from freshman forward Olivia Howard and senior forward Leila Emmerson. Howard recorded her first career goal and points as a Gaucho as she netted a goal with one second remaining before halftime. Emmerson found the back of the net early in the second half to record her first goal since the 2021 season.
Sabrina Hinz recorded her first clean sheet and picked up her first win in the Blue and Gold to start her junior season. Hinz recorded three saves and showed great poise and excellent decision-making in her first career start for the Gauchos. Hinz did not see any action in the exhibition against California Baptist but that did not matter as she starts the season with a 1-0-0 record.
Six of the 12 newcomers played quality minutes for the Gauchos on Thursday against LMU. Freshmen Emily Caughey was one of four Gauchos to play 80 or more minutes while Jessica Carlton, Olivia Howard, Jaclyn Degidio and Erin Ellsworth were on the pitch when Howard scored her goal just before halftime. Keile Hansen made some impressive runs and created some opportunities for the Gauchos early in the game before being replaced by Ellsworth.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
San Jose State was selected to finish fourth in the 2023 Mountain West Preseason Poll as they totaled 92 points and earned three first-place votes. The three first-place votes were the second most behind Wyoming and San Diego State who each received four.
SJSU is coming off an incredible 2022 season which saw them win the Mountain West regular-season title, the Mountain West Championship and made their third appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2015.
The Spartans return four 2022 All-Mountain West honorees Bente Pernot, Bella Flocchini, Sabrina Weinman and Tatiana Cunningham. Pernot also garnered 2022 Mountain West Newcomer of the Year and Mount West Championship MVP. To add on, Pernot is the current all-time Spartans' leader in goals-against average and ranks seventh in shutouts in Spartan history.
FOLLOW ALONG
The Gauchos and Spartans will kick off in San Jose, Calif. at 12 p.m. (noon). For those who cannot attend in person, a live stream is available through the Mountain West Network and live stats will be provided through sjsuspartans.com
