It took overtime, but No. 10 UCSB (3-0-0) defeated Pittsburgh (1-2-0) on Sunday morning during the Gauchos’ final pairing at the West Virginia University/Nike Classic at the Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Senior Martin Hedevagrecorded the game winner with a header in the 100th minute.
Pitt got on the scoreboard first when a header by Ryan Brode connected to Terry Boland who shot and scored, putting the Panthers ahead 1-0 just 6:21 into the match.
The Gauchos did not trail for long. In the ninth minute, freshman Michael Nonni passed the ball into the box to senior David Walker, who then shot the ball to the far post for the goal. The assist was Nonni’s third of the week.
The Panthers regained their lead in the 38th minute when Ian Farnsworth’s corner kick reached Mike McDade, who shot the ball past Gaucho goalie Sam Hayden.
At the beginning of the second half, UCSB was able to tie things up again in the 53rd minute when sophomore Danny Barrera received a free kick. Barrera bent the ball and it went in untouched to tie the game again at two apiece.
The seesaw battle continued when McDade scored his second goal of the game from the near side. Hayden came out and McDade was able to beat him for the score with just under 10 minutes to play in regulation time.
Trailing by one with fewer than four minutes to play, Machael David was able to steal the ball and send it to the top of the circle where Walker received the pass, shot and scored, tying the game at 3-3 and sending it into overtime.
Ten minutes into overtime, Barrera served the ball into the box where it connected with Hedevag who supplied the game-winning header.
The win improves the Gaucho record to 3-0-0, marking the second consecutive season UCSB has opened the year with a trio of victories.
The Gauchos out-shot the Panthers 21-9 during the match, though Pitt made its shots count with six on-frame. UCSB had seven on-frame, including three of Walker’s four shots.
Hayden recorded three saves in goal for UCSB. Pitt’s Zack Matthews had four.
David Walker was named the tournament MVP after scoring three goals during the weekend. Danny Barrera, Martin Hedevag and Rob Hoyle were also named to the All-Tournament team.
