MILWAUKEE, Wisc. – Ninth-ranked UCSB (5-1-0) got back to its winning ways on Friday evening as the Gauchos opened the 36th Annual Panther Invitational with a 2-0 win over host Milwaukee (1-5-0) at the Panthers’ Engleman Field. UCSB was led by sophomore forward Waid Ibrahim who scored a goal and assisted the game-winner.
The Gauchos got their offense rolling early in the game with Luis Silva and Danny Barrera each getting off two shots apiece in the first 11 minutes of play.
In the 25th minute of the game, Ibrahim subbed in for senior David Walker and just over a minute later, the forward assisted Silva on his first goal of the season on a give-and-go at the top of the 18-yard box.
Milwaukee stayed fairly even with the Gauchos in the first half shots-wise, UCSB out-shot the Panthers just 6-5. Gaucho goalie Sam Hayden made three of his four saves in the first period.
Leading 1-0, the Gauchos added their second goal just 1:05 into the second half when Michael Nonni led Ibrahim with a pass on a breakaway for the sophomore’s second goal of the season.
For the remainder of the second half an equal number of yellow cards were handed out as shots were taken as UCSB held on for the 2-0 win.
BOX SCORE, UCSB MEN’S SOCCER TEAM PAGE
Silva and Milwaukee’s Zach Funk led all players with four shots apiece. Barrera and Ibrahim were the only other players to fire off multiple shots. For the game, the Gauchos out-shot the Panthers 11-9, but had just three shots on goal versus Milwaukee’s four.
Walker, who injured his hand in last Sunday’s match with Loyola Marymount and had subsequent hand surgery on Monday, started the game and played 52 minutes.
UCSB will continue action at the 36th Annual Panther Invitational on Sunday when they take on Wisconsin at 10 am (PST).
