SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Sept. 14, 2023) — The UC Santa Barbara Men's Soccer team (3-3) will face their final non-Big West opponents in their next two matches, welcoming Kansas City (2-2-2) to Harder Stadium on Saturday, September 16 before traveling to face California Baptist (1-4-1) in Riverside on Tuesday. During Saturday night's match, the Gauchos will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins on September 15.
WHEN AND WHERE TO WATCH
Saturday night's match against Kansas City will kick off at 7 p.m. from Harder Stadium. Along with UC Santa Barbara's Hispanic Heritage Celebration, Saturday is also Revolution Night at Harder Stadium. Santa Barbara Revolution players who wear their jersey to the game will receive free admission. Fans can also catch the match live on ESPN+, and live stats will be available through ucsbgauchos.com.
Tuesday's road match at California Baptist will also kick off at 7 p.m. from CBU Soccer Stadium in Riverside. The match will be live on ESPN+, with live stats available through ucsbgauchos.com.
LAST TIME OUT
UC Santa Barbara was in Phoenix for their last match, taking on Grand Canyon. After a 90-minute lightning delay, three second-half goals gave the hosting Antelopes a 3-0 win.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE GAUCHOS
The Gauchos' season has had its ups and downs, as UC Santa Barbara sits at an even 3-3 six matches into the season. Last week saw the highest highs so far, with the Gauchos winning back-to-back matches for the first time, both at home. Home soil is where UC Santa Barbara has somewhat found their footing, bouncing back from an opening night loss to now win each of their last three contests at Harder Stadium. The lows of the season have come largely on the road, including Tuesday night's 3-0 loss in Phoenix. While the Gauchos are out-scoring opponents, 11-9, at home, they have been out-scored, 7-2, on the road.
With last Tuesday being UC Santa Barbara's third match of the season against a team from the Western Athletic Conference, the Gauchos are now 34-35-7 all time against current WAC members, leading into next Tuesday's clash with that conference's preseason favorites, California Baptist.
Saturday will be the first ever meeting between UC Santa Barbara and Kansas City, with the Roos being the third (current) Summit League member the Gauchos have ever faced. UC Santa Barbara comes into the weekend with a 4-2-1 overall record against current Summit League teams.
SCOUTING THE ROOS
Kansas City comes into Saturday night's matchup in their best form of the season, unbeaten in their last three matches. The Roos started the season going loss-tie-loss in their first three fixtures, then went win-tie-win in their last three. The Roos' latest draw came against then-No. 18 SIUE on September 8, having to settle for the 1-1 deadlock after leading for most of the second half.
The draw against the Cougars was the second time Kansas City hosted the No. 18 team in the country, having opened their home schedule against then-No. 18 Missouri State at the end of August, a 1-0 loss.
Attacking midfielder Hector Taboa is the only Roo with multiple goals on the season but does not lead the team in points; that honor belongs to midfielder Julius Le Bourdoulous, who has a goal and four assists for a total of six points on the season. Defensively, the Roos are led by goalkeeper Stefano Camerlengo and defender Seth Kacich, who were both named Summit League Players to Watch ahead of this season.
SCOUTING THE LANCERS
California Baptist was picked as preseason favorites to win the WAC but have only one win through their first six matches. The Lancers' 1-4-1 record does come with a massive asterisk, which is they have played a very tough schedule, beginning their season with road trips to West Virginia and Michigan and taking on then-No. 24 Loyola Marymount in their home opener. The California section of CBU's non-conference slate also includes a 2-1 loss to Cal, a 3-1 win over CSUN and a road loss at No. 22 San Diego. The Lancers will not play a match this weekend before facing the Gauchos on Tuesday night.
Offensively, CBU is led by forwards Luis Mueller (three goals) and Leo Mendez (two assists), the former of whom was named WAC Player of the Week on Tuesday. Mueller was also on the Preseason All-WAC team, alongside defenders Antonio Gomez and Thomas Beecham, who was named WAC Preseason Defender of the Year and selected to United Soccer Coaches' National Players to Watch List.
