SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — On another day, coming from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with the no. 12 team in the nation and perennial NCAA Tournament participant Marshall would be a positive result for the UC Santa Barbara Men's Soccer team, but on Thursday night the Gauchos knew they could have had much more. Santa Barbara out-shot the Thundering Herd, 25-9, but
Donovan Sessoms' first official goal in Blue and Gold was the only one that went in.
QUOTABLE
Goalkeeper Owen Beninga on the team's performance: "I think we were strong overall," Beninga said. "Honestly, the back line held really strong to keep it 1-1. There were some moments where we could be better, but we have a big game on Monday so just looking forward to that."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first 10 minutes actually belonged to Marshall, as they peppered balls into the box, forcing
Owen Beninga to come out of his goal and smother the danger. Beninga had another big play to makein the 10
th minute, standing tall against a one-on-one breakaway opportunity, which
Drew Kamienski recovered to help shut down. However, the visitors went in front a minute later thanks to a penalty kick awarded after video review. Beninga guessed the correct way, but he was not going to save such a well-placed shot without adding another foot to his already massive wingspan.
But the Gauchos responded well, surging forward in search of an immediate response.
Kalle Rahbek saw a shot go just high less than a minute after the Marshall goal, and
Steinar Bjornsson was denied from close range after making a great effort to keep the ball in play in the 16
th minute. Sessoms had a shot that forced a great save in the 19
th, despite the fact that he was fouled so hard mid-shot that the defender was booked. The Gauchos had to feel the equalizer was coming when Bjornsson forced a reaction save in the 25
th minute, and they were right. One minute later,
Peleg Brown effectively flipped the field, playing a pass from deep within his own half which landed deep within Marshall's, where Bjornsson latched onto it. A few touches later, the Icelander played a pass across goal and Sessoms smashed it home.
Santa Barbara stayed in control for the rest of the half, and they nearly scored a second just three minutes after their first. Bjornsson had the goalkeeper one-on-one outside of the 18-yard box, leaving him without the use of his hands. Bjornsson curled a shot around him, only to watch it crash off the goalpost. When the rebound fell back to Bjornsson, he again missed agonizingly wide.
Just after halftime, Santa Barbara thought they had gone a man up when Marshall's goalkeeper was shown a red card for a rash challenge on
Zac Siebenlist, only for the card to be reduced to a yellow after VAR review.
Given a second life, that goalkeeper then denied Siebenlist with an unbelievable leaping save in the top corner. That flicked shot was the closest the Gauchos would come to a second goal, though
Jack Middleton smashed a shot off the crossbar and out in the 61
st minute.
In the later stages of the match, Santa Barbara found themselves with defending to do. In the 78
th minute, Beninga made his best save of the match, a close-range stop after a Marshall player had zigged and zagged his way through the Gaucho defense. Then, with just three minutes left,
Viggo Gustavsson donned the cape to play hero, blocking a shot that was heading goal-wards while Beninga was still recovering into his position.
Santa Barbara had shots blocked themselves at the other end, trying but ultimately failing to find a way through.
UP NEXT
The Gauchos face an even tougher test on Monday night, as they will host No. 2 San Diego at Harder Stadium. The Toreros nearly held No. 1 Stanford scoreless in Palo Alto on Thursday night, only to be defied by a late goal.
