UCSB soccer schedule includes Stanford, UCLA

UCSB's Nick DePuy led UCSB in scoring last season with 10 goals.

UCSB’s Nick DePuy led UCSB in scoring last season with 10 goals.

 

Looking to follow up on a 2014 campaign that saw UCSB soccer pick up its eighth Big West regular season championship while finishing at the top of the NCAA attendance leaderboard for the eighth consecutive season, the team’s 2015 schedule features two of the marquee powerhouses on the west coast, challenging road trips to New Mexico and New England, and a typically-rigorous conference slate.

After their annual exhibition contest against crosstown rival Westmont kicks off the season on Aug. 22, the Gauchos will welcome reigning Pac-12 Champion Stanford – and US Men’s National Team member Jordan Morris – to Harder Stadium on Aug. 28 to open the regular season.

Morris – who became the first college player to receive a cap with the USMNT since 1995 and the first collegiate to score a goal for the red, white, and blue since 1992 – and his Cardinal brethren are just one of a number of strong squads who will make the trip to Harder this season.

Other programs scheduled to appear in Santa Barbara this year include Akron – who won the 2010 College Cup hosted at Harder Stadium – 2014 NCAA Tournament participant San Diego and College of Charleston. Perennial conference rivals Cal Poly, Sacramento State, UC Davis, and UC Riverside will all make appearances as well.

The biggest road game of the season for UCSB will be played on Sept. 21 at UCLA’s Drake Stadium. The Gauchos and Bruins, who were runners-up in last year’s College Cup, have put together some of the most epic battles in west coast soccer over the past decade, including a 2-0 UCSB win in front of an NCAA-record 15,896 fans at Harder Stadium on Sept. 24, 2010.

Other key away contests include a tournament at New Mexico against the Lobos and 2014 NCAA Tournament participant Denver, a Sept. 13 showdown at UCONN, and vital conference games at UC Irvine, Cal State Northridge, and Cal Poly.

The Gauchos will welcome the Mustangs for their annual Blue-Green rivalry game on Oct. 24. Last year’s tussle at Harder drew a season-high 14,345 fans to the stadium; nothing new for the Gauchos and Mustangs, who have produced 10 of the 15 largest regular season, on-campus crowds in NCAA history.

UCSB opens its home Big West schedule on Oct. 8 by hosting UC Riverside.

Vom Steeg returns a number of key players to this year’s squad, including reigning Big West Offensive Player of the Year Nick DePuy (10 goals, including six game-winners) and 2014 MAC Hermann Trophy nominee Ismaila Jome.

An exciting incoming recruiting class that has been ranked as high as No. 5 in the nation features local standouts Justin Vom Steeg and Sam Strong, forwards Geoffrey Acheampong and Ahinga Selemani, and midfielders Kevin Feucht and Kosti Moni.

Date Opponent
August
Sat 22 Westmont (Exhibition)
Santa Barbara, Calif. – Meet the Team / SBSC Summer Cup Night
7:00 PM PDT
Fri 28 Stanford
Santa Barbara, Calif. – UCSB Camp Night / Schedule Magnet Night
7:30 PM PDT
September
Fri 4 vs. Denver
Albuquerque, N.M.
3:00 PM PDT
Sun 6 at New Mexico
Albuquerque, N.M.
5:00 PM PDT
Fri 11 at Yale
New Haven, Conn.
4:00 PM EDT
Sun 13 at UConn
Storrs, Conn.
4:00 PM PDT
Fri 18 Col. of Charleston
Santa Barbara, Calif. – SBSC Club Night
7:30 PM PDT
Mon 21 at UCLA
Westwood, Calif. – Gaucho Huddle with Head Coach Tim Vom Steeg
7:00 PM PDT
Fri 25 Akron
Santa Barbara, Calif. – T-Shirt Night / Back to School Night
7:30 PM PDT
Sun 27 San Diego
Santa Barbara, Calif. – AYSO Banner Night / Foam Finger Night
6:00 PM PDT
October
Thu 1 at UC Irvine *
Irvine, Calif.
7:00 PM PDT
Sat 3 at Cal State Northridge *
Northridge, Calif.
7:00 PM PDT
Thu 8 UC Riverside *
Santa Barbara, Calif. – Gauchos Give Elementary School Night
7:00 PM PDT
Sat 10 Cal State Fullerton *
Santa Barbara, Calif. – Gauchos Give Elementary School Night
7:00 PM PDT
Wed 14 at Sacramento State *
Sacramento, Calif.
4:00 PM PDT
Sat 17 at Cal Poly *
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
7:00 PM PDT
Wed 21 UC Davis *
Santa Barbara, Calif. – Gauchos Give Non-Profit Night
7:00 PM PDT
Sat 24 Cal Poly *
Santa Barbara, Calif. – Thunder Sticks / Alumni Night
7:00 PM PDT
Wed 28 Sacramento State *
Santa Barbara, Calif. – Senior Night / Gauchos Give Non-Profit Night
7:00 PM PDT
Sat 31 at UC Davis *
Davis, Calif.
2:00 PM PDT
November
Sat 7 Big West Tournament Quarterfinals TBA
Wed 11 Big West Tournament Semifinals TBA
Sat 14 Big West Tournament Championship TBA
Thu 19 NCAA Tournament First Round TBA
Sun 22 NCAA Tournament Second Round TBA
Sun 29 NCAA Tournament Third Round TBA
December
Fri 4 NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals TBA
Fri 11 NCAA College Cup Semifinals
Kansas City, Mo.
TBA
Sun 13 NCAA College Cup Final
Kansas City, Mo.