LOS ANGELES — On the strength of an outstanding performance by freshman goalkeeper Makenna Henry and its group of defenders, UCSB battled 13th-ranked UCLA to a 1-1 tie at Drake Stadium in Westwood on Sunday afternoon.
UCSB took a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute when Kailyn Kugler scored on a deflection of an attempted clear by UCLA goalkeeper Chanté Sandiford. The goal was Kugler’s first of the season.
The Bruins had a chance to tie the score in the 42nd minute when the Gauchos were called for a foul in the penalty box, however Sydney Leroux’s penalty kick was blocked by Henry.
UCSB narrowly missed taking a 2-0 lead in the 60th minute when a shot by Alissa Sanchez appeared to cross the goal line but was ultimately cleared by Sandiford. Sanchez’s shot came just moments after a shot by Erin Ortega was cleared off the line by a Bruins’ defender.
UCLA caught a break to tie the score 1-1 in the 67th minute. Zakiya Bywaters appeared to be fouled just outside the penalty box, but after some discussion the officials determined that the foul was inside the box, resulting in the Bruins’ second penalty kick of the afternoon. This time, Lauren Barnes’ shot eluded Henry.
Gaucho coach Paul Stumpf was ejected after protesting the call that resulted in the game-tying goal by UCLA.
“The players kept their composure better than I did,” Stumpf said. “After a couple of scoring chances by UCLA, we really got it together defensively and did a good job. I think UCLA is a top five team and when I can look at this game objectively, I will probably realize that it was a good result for us. Realistically though, I think this is game we could have won.”
Stumpf’s ejection was just the second in his 40 years as a coach or player.
The score remained tied the remainder of regulation and the teams headed to overtime.
It looked like Santa Barbara had won the match in the fifth minute of the first overtime period. The Gauchos appeared to score a goal during a scramble in front of the goal after a corner kick. The referee, however, determined that a UCSB player had committed a foul and waved off the goal.
UCLA, which outshot UCSB 30-10 overall and 8-4 in terms of shots on goal, hit the post on two shots, one each in the first and second half. Henry was outstanding in goal for the Gauchos finishing with seven saves. Santa Barbara’s defensive unit of Alyssa Benjamin, Julia Speace, Alexa Stringer and Kathleen Matthew, all of whom played 110 minutes, were also outstanding in the tie.
The tie snaps a three-game Gaucho losing streak. UCSB is now 3-3-1 overall. The Bruins, who defeated third-ranked Notre Dame on Friday, are now 4-1-1.
The Gauchos return home on Friday, Sept. 17 when they host Weber State in a 7 p.m. contest at Meredith Field at Harder Stadium. UCSB will also host Oklahoma on Sunday, Sept. 19 at noon.
