The UCSB women’s soccer team opened its 2009 regular season on Sunday at Santa Clara, losing to the 22nd-ranked Broncos, 2-0.
The game was scoreless through the first 65 minutes, but Santa Clara got on the board at 65:50 Olivia Klei scored her first career goal after knocking in classmate Amanda Webster’s pinpoint cross. Ten minutes later, Jordan Angeli made it 2-0 when she drove home a penalty kick after UCSB was whistled for a handball in the penalty box.
Santa Clara had the run of play in the first half, controlling most of the possesion and firing eight shots on Gaucho goalkeeper Ali Cutler, forcing her to make five saves, many of them point blank. Ten minutes into the match, Santa Clara Kiki Bosio found herself alone one-on-one with Cutler just eight yards out from the box, but was unable to finish as Cutler pushed her shot wide out for a corner kick.
At 29:39, junior Kendra Perry also had a good look on goal and launched a diving header in Cutler’s direction, but Cutler got her hands on that ball as well.
With nearly a minute left to play in the half, the Gauchos put the ball in the net on a header past sophomore goalkeeper Bianca Henninger, but the goal was disallowed because of an offside ruling, ending the half scoreless.
Santa Clara prevented any shots from getting through to sophomore goalkeeper Bianca Henninger, as the netminder picked up her second shutout of the season. The Broncos launched 17 total shots in Cutler’s direction, and the Gaucho keeper finished with eight saves.
The Gauchos (0-1) will remain on the road for two more contests next weekend. On Friday, Aug. 28, they travel to Reno, Nev., for a 7:00 p.m. contest with the University of Nevada. On Sunday, Aug. 30, UCSB will play at Sacramento State. The Gauchos will play their home opener on Thursday, Sept. 3 when they host powerful Michigan State, an NCAA Tournament team in 2008.
