A goal by Kailyn Kugler in the 75th minute broke a scoreless tie and gave the UCSB women’s soccer team a 1-0 Big West win over visiting Cal State Fullerton on Friday night at Meredith Field at Harder Stadium.
Kugler’s goal, which was unassisted, came from about 25 yards, above the right side of the penalty box. Titan goalkeeper Shannon Simpson tried to play the ball out of the box, but Kugler was there to gather it. The junior from San Clemente, Calif., then lofted a shot over Simpson as she raced back to her line. The ball settled into the center of the net to break the 0-0 deadlock.
The goal was Kugler’s fourth of the year, the most on the team, and it was the second straight match in which she has scored.
Fullerton had a handful of solid chances, but none more than the one that came in the 60th minute when Tanya Slusser headed a cross over the head of Gaucho goalkeeper Tammy Lenham. The shot, which came from about five yards out, was taken from the center and directed towards the right post, but Lenham who was moving towards the center, leaped and caught the ball before tumbling to the ground, next to the post and just short of the goal line.
Lenham finished with three saves to post the shutout. Simpson had four saves for the Titans. In all, the Gauchos had 12 shots, six of which were on frame, while Fullerton had just five, three of which were on goal.
The win gives UCSB two wins in a row for the first time in 2009. It improves the Gauchos overall record to 5-7-1 overall and 2-1-0 in the Big West. Fullerton drops to 3-6-3 overall and 1-1-0 in league play.
Santa Barbara returns to Meredith Field at Harder Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 11 to host UC Riverside in another Big West match.
