The UCSB women’s soccer team, playing just its second home match of the year, dropped a 2-1 decision to visiting Arizona on Friday night at Meredith Field at Harder Stadium. The Wildcats (3-5-1) took a 2-0 lead on the Gauchos (3-5-1) and then held on for the win.
Arizona scored its first goal at the 35:30 mark when Leila Amini’s corner kick was headed in from about five yards out straightaway by Jessica Culver. The score remained 1-0 into halftime.
The Wildcats made the score 2-0 in the 53rd minute when Jasmine Namdar threaded a perfect through-ball up the middle to Renae Cuellar. Cuellar beat one defender and then went one-on-one with Gaucho goalkeeper Tammy Lenham. She slid a shot past a charging Lenham.
UCSB cut the leadin half at the 60:26 mark. Sophomore Alissa Sanchez cracked a corner kick in front of the Arizona goal. Junior Kailyn Kugler fired a shot that was blocked by Wildcat goalkeeper Deven Wharf, but junior Jacqui Simon was right there to drill the rebound into the back of the net.
The Gauchos, who outshot Arizona 11-4, had several more opportunitites, particularly on corner kicks, but couldn’t get the equalizer. UCSB had 12 corners compared to the Wildcats’ four.
Santa Barbara returns to action at home on Sunday, Sept. 27 when it hosts third-ranked UCLA in a 4:00 p.m. match at Meredith Field at Harder Stadium. The Gaucho-Bruin contest will be part of a doubleheader. The men’s team will host UC Irvine in the Big West opener at approximately 6:30 p.m.
