BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Women's Soccer team sets out on the last road trip of the year this week taking on Cal State Bakersfield and Cal State Northridge. The Gauchos look to continue an impressive streak of 5-0-2 in their last seven Big West matchups.
LAST TIME OUT
On October 13, Santa Barbara traveled to Fullerton where the Gauchos faced the Titans. Cal State Fullerton was able to hold Santa Barbara's team scoreless for the first time since September 9 when they lost 1-0 to Omaha. With back-to-back wins in conference play before this draw, the Gauchos look to extend their Big West unbeaten streak as the end of the regular season approaches. The October 17 game against Cal State Bakersfield is bound to be a good one as the second and third ranked teams in The Big West standings clash.
SCOUTING THE ROADRUNNERS
The Roadrunners are just one of four teams in The Big West to have three conference wins at this point in October. The upcoming matchup with UC Santa Barbara holds large conference implications as both teams sit within the top 3 of The Big West Standings.
Karen Flores leads the Bakersfield offense as one of three players with multiple goals. She has scored four times while assisting on one. Kim Garcia and Sara Ybarra are the other multi-goal scorers, each registering two so far this season.
In net, the Roadrunners have seen a fairly even split in time with Kamy Anaya and Hollee Hercik. Hercik has recorded about 150 more minutes while posting a lower goals-against average (1.35 vs. 2.10), more saves (45 vs. 34) and a better save percentage (0.789 vs. 0.694).
SCOUTING THE MATADORS
Northridge has an even .500 winning percentage in conference this year sitting at 2-2-2 entering the penultimate week of Big West play. CSUN will take on Cal Poly before hosting the Gauchos on Sunday evening.
The Matadors were unbeaten last week as they secured their second conference win over UC San Diego and a draw with UC Riverside. Yoshi Rubalcava is the strongest attacker for the Matadors with five goals and two game-winners this season.
Goalkeeper Riley Liebsack is ranked No. 1 in the Big West and No. 24 in the NCAA for total saves coming in at 77 on the season. She recorded a season-high 10 saves against Texas Tech earlier this season. Liebsack will certainly be one of the stronger forces in goal that the Gauchos have faced so far.
FOLLOW ALONG
UCSB kicks off against CSUB on Thursday, October 17th, at 7 p.m. followed by their Sunday match at CSUN at 5 p.m. Both events will be live streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available for both contests.
