University of California, Santa Barbara

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Less than a week after earning the program's first-ever win in the state of New Jersey, the No. 23 UC Santa Barbara Men's Soccer team ticked another state off its list, mounting a second-half comeback to defeat Grand Canyon, 2-1, in Phoenix. Not only is it the Gauchos' first-ever win in the Copper State, it is also their first victory over the Antelopes. Steinar Bjornsson provided the decisive score, one of his trademark long-range goals. That strike also kept him level with Kaden Standish as the team's top scorer after Standish's textbook header had brought the Gauchos back on terms. Owen Beninga may not have gotten what would have been his 10^th career clean sheet, but the sophomore goalkeeper was just as heroic as Standish and Bjornsson, making seven saves, including one in the final minute to preserve the result. Cole Harris also played brilliantly to make Beninga's life easier, the sophomore going the full 90 minutes in the defensive line in just his second career start.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was Harris involved in the first major action of the night as the Lopes carved out a chance in the ninth minute; the Gauchos' number three was in the right place to block a well-hit shot from the top of the penalty area. The first 30 or so minutes were generally difficult for Santa Barbara, with Grand Canyon able to pressure the Gauchos into mistakes and enjoy the majority of possession. Thankfully for the Blue and Gold, Grand Canyon squandered many of their early chances, and the ones the Lopes did not fumble, Beninga was able to stop.
 
The Gaucho goalkeeper made his first official save in the 15^th minute, comfortably handling a tame shot after a turnover, but his first great save came in the 24^th. When a diagonal pass set the Lopes up with a wide-open shot at the top of the penalty area, Beninga made use of his imposing stature and long arms, reaching up to parry the high shot up and over the crossbar.
 
A few minutes later, Santa Barbara made its first substitutions of the night, and the changes helped the Gauchos grow into the game. Zac Siebenlist and Jakob Methvin were particularly impactful off the bench, with Siebenlist causing Grand Canyon so many fits that he did not leave the pitch after coming on. The junior was particularly pesky during the second half, pressing the Grand Canyon defense, winning the ball back high up the pitch, making runs and passes beyond the back line, out-dueling defenders in the air and generally making life miserable for the Antelope defenders.
 
However, the Gaucho defenders (and Beninga behind them) also remained busy, with one more big test to pass before the halftime break. In the 41^st minute, Beninga parried aside a screaming strike from distance, only to watch the rebound fall at the feat of another Grand Canyon player. However, the big man got down well, sprawling out his six-foot-four frame to cut down the shooter's angle and ending up getting an arm in the way of the shot. The Gauchos finished the half unscathed.
 
They remained that way for less than two minutes after it. Beninga made another great save in the 47^th minute, diving to block a close-range curler that was destined for the far post, but when the rebound again fell to an Antelope, no goalkeeper in the world would have been able to recover from Beninga's position and stop what was coming. The home side had finally found its way through.
 
The Gauchos trailed for all of four minutes. On what was effectively their first real scoring chance of the match, Santa Barbara found its equalizer through Standish. Peleg Brown floated a cross in from a free kick, finding Standish wide open some six yards from goal. All the senior had to do was use his head to guide the ball into the far side netting, which he did with aplomb.
 
With the wind in their sails and Siebenlist nipping at the Lopes' heels, the Gauchos started to take control of the match. Siebenlist created a great chance to take the lead by forcing one of many turnovers by the GCU back line, and his diagonal ball gave Kalle Rahbek — who had made a lung-busting, 50-yard run from midfield — a look at goal from inside 10 yards, but the Dane was denied by a brilliant save.
 
The breakthrough finally came in the 72^nd minute, courtesy of a man building his reputation for long-range heroics. After Jack Middleton's shot was blocked, the rebound fell to Bjornsson 35 yards from goal, facing the wrong direction and in the middle of three Lopes. The Icelander simply turned around, took a couple of dribbles to his right and launched a rocket that flew the full distance into nearly the top corner of the goal.
 
The Gauchos knew there would be a storm to weather, but they did have a couple of chances to score a third and kill off the game. The best came courtesy of Siebenlist, who played another perfect diagonal ball to split the defense and set a teammate through on goal, this time giving Mateos Carvalho a one-on-one, but the sophomore was denied by another impressive stop.
 
At the other end, there was one more miracle for Beninga to conjure as the clock ticked into the final minute of the match, the Lopes lobbing a pass into the penalty area and onto the foot of their forward, who just had to poke it around Beninga from inside six yards — no time at all for the Gaucho keeper to react. Except, Beninga did not need to react. He was positioned perfectly, his frame too big for the striker to avoid, and the ball deflected off his foot and out. Santa Barbara defended the ensuing corner kick well, and that was the game.
 
UP NEXT
The Gauchos return home next week, hosting San Diego State on Thursday, Sept. 17 and No. 23 Oregon State on Sunday, Sept. 20. Sunday night's match against the 23^rd-ranked Beavers is part of UC Santa Barbara's Welcome Weekend, bringing new and returning students and their families into the Gaucho community with a night of top-level collegiate soccer. Tickets for all of UC Santa Barbara's home matches are on sale now at ucsbgauchos.com/tickets, and all UC Santa Barbara students get into all Gaucho home games for free with their student ID card.