SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The UC Santa Barbara Men's Soccer team returns from their Midwestern road trip for a pair of matches in California this weekend, hosting UNLV on Friday and visiting Pacific in Stockton on Monday. This weekend is something of a throwback to the 1980s for the Gauchos, as the Rebels and Tigers were Big West conference-mates of Santa Barbara's back then. The Gauchos have seen them both far more recently than that, hosting and defeating both teams last season. Nalu Mack scored in the 2-1 win over UNLV, and Eddie Villeda and Haruki Utsumi both netted in the 4-2 victory over Pacific. In nine meetings, Santa Barbara has never lost to the Tigers.
 
WHEN AND WHERE TO WATCH
Friday's match is Santa Barbara Soccer Club Night, as the Gauchos invite players, coaches and their families to join them at Harder Stadium. SBSC players who wear their jerseys will receive free admission to the match.
 
The Gauchos will be at Knoles Field in Stockton for Monday's contest with Pacific; kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in that match as well. Both of this week's games will be streamed on ESPN+ and will have live stats available through ucsbgauchos.com for those following from afar.
 
LAST TIME OUT
UC Santa Barbara is returning from its longest road trip of the regular season, having visited Kansas City and Oral Roberts last week. The Gauchos went 1-1 on the trip, defeating Kansas City, 3-0, but falling, 2-1, against Oral Roberts. Alexis Ledoux continued his hot start to the season in Kansas City, notching a goal and an assist. With three goals and two assists, he is already over halfway to matching any Gaucho's best points total from last season. Isaiah Barber scored Santa Barbara's lone goal against Oral Roberts, the first of his collegiate career. Head Coach Tim Vom Steeg named Barber one of the Gauchos to watch this season after strong performances in spring scrimmages.
 
SCOUTING THE REBELS
UNLV (1-2-0) comes to town looking to snap a two-game skid after back-to-back losses on the road in Ohio last week. The Rebels dropped a 3-1 decision against Dayton last Thursday, then fell one goal short against then-No. 20 Ohio State in Columbus, losing 3-2.
 
A different player has scored each of the Rebels' five goals this season, and no UNLV player has provided more than one of the team's six assists. Three men have both a goal and an assist to their names coming into Friday's match: midfielders Mikah Madrid, Nico Lopez and Brophy Howard. The now-fifth-year Rebel Lopez was an All-WAC Second Team selection in 2023, when UNLV reached the Western Athletic Conference Championship Match. Howard was named WAC Player of the Week after his game-winning goal in UNLV's season-opening win over Tulsa.
 
In goal, sophomore Hugo Lemos has played every minute for the Rebels, which should be little surprise after the Spaniard earned WAC All-Freshman honors in 2023. Three matches into 2024, he has a .739 save percentage and a 2.00 goals-against average. By comparison, UC Santa Barbara goalkeeper David Mitzner has a .700 save percentage and 1.00 GAA.
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Pacific (2-1-0) is in the midst of a five-match run against Big West opponents, having beaten UC Riverside on Sunday and set to face CSUN in Northridge before hosting the Gauchos. Earlier this season, the Tigers also beat UC Davis, 1-0, in what was their only home match so far.
 
The Tigers enter the week after a 2-0 victory at UC Riverside, with forward Vinzent Zingel scoring both goals. The German is in his sixth season of collegiate soccer on his third team, having played three years for Colorado State Pueblo before transferring to Pacific by way of Missouri State. Jose Maria Barrera scored the Tigers' first goal of the season against UC Davis.
 
In goal, Pacific has senior Joshua Moya, who brings an impressive .864 save percentage into the week, along with a 1.00 goals-against average and two shutouts. He was named West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week after the first of those two clean sheets, making a career-high 10 saves against the Aggies.
 
UP NEXT
The Gauchos return to Harder Stadium again on Sept. 13, when they will host the New Hampshire Wildcats in a first-ever meeting between the two teams. UC Santa Barbara will then host the annual Community Shield Match against Westmont on Sept. 14, an exhibition contest. Both matches will begin at 7 p.m.