SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The UC Santa Barbara Men's Soccer team wrapped up preseason action in style on Saturday night, scoring a game-winning goal with just eight seconds left to play in their exhibition against San Diego State. Pablo Figueroa's left-footed strike was the decider, restoring a Gaucho lead that had been erased in the 81^st minute. Isaiah Barber had put Santa Barbara in front shortly after the hour mark.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos started the match on the front foot as their forwards and midfielders looked to be too much for the Aztecs' defense; the visitors could do little more than foul their hosts in the first 20 minutes. That trend flipped midway through what was a chippy first 45 minutes, with the Gauchos hearing more and more whistles go against them as halftime approached. San Diego State out-shot Santa Barbara, 6-1, in the first period, though only one of those troubled Gaucho goalkeeper David Mitzner, who made a good catch to keep a looping ball out of the far top corner.
 
After posting just one shot themselves in the first half, Santa Barbara came out firing in the second 45, with Ocean Salari and Mikkel Goeling seeing their rapid-fire efforts blocked by diving defenders just five minutes after the break, and Henrique Bueno firing a long-range attempt over the bar shortly afterward. Gaucho Head Coach Tim Vom Steeg made two key changes just before the hour mark, bringing on Barber and Kaden Standish, the two of whom combined for the game's opening score in the 64^th minute. From a free kick, Standish delivered a perfect ball to Barber right around the penalty spot; the Beaumont native leapt and met it with a strong header back which bounced off the crossbar and in, despite an Aztec defender's attempt to keep it out.
 
The game's chippy nature continued, and when San Diego State answered, it was off a free kick of their own, taken from quite literally the edge of the penalty area. Despite the setback, the Gauchos pushed to regain their lead and with under 10 seconds to play, Standish delivered from a set piece again. From nearly the same spot he had found Barber for the first score, the sophomore's cross was not quite as good, but it found Filip Basili's head, and Basili's header fell to Figueroa about 20 yards from goal. He blasted a worm-burning shot across the ground and into the bottom right corner, giving the home side the win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Twenty-one players featured in the game for Santa Barbara, with three playing all 90 minutes: goalkeeper David Mitzner, defender Peleg Brown and midfielder Manu Duah.
• San Diego State out-shot Santa Barbara, 12-8, in the match, but both teams posted two shots on target. Mitzner was the only goalkeeper on either team to record a save.  
• The two teams combined to commit 31 fouls in the match; five Gauchos were booked.

 
UP NEXT
The Gauchos open the 2024 regular season at home against Missouri State on Thursday, Aug. 22, with kickoff at 7 p.m. For those unable to make it to Harder Stadium for the match, it will be streamed live on ESPN+ with live stats available through ucsbgauchos.com.