After struggling to score just one goal in its last three games, a total of 290 minutes, UCSB wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in Friday night’s 2-0 victory over visiting Weber State.
Just 35 seconds into the game, Gaucho forward’s Kylie McDonald and Kailyn Kugler hooked-up for their first of two goals on the night. McDonald dribbled the ball down the left side, streaked past a defender towards the penalty box and then hit a perfect cross that was headed in by Kugler from about eight yards out. The goal was her second of the season and her second in the last two games. It was the 24th goal of Kugler’s career moving her out of a tie for ninth on UCSB’s all-time list and into ninth all alone.
The Gauchos (4-3-1) held the 1-0 lead on the Wildcats (0-8-0) until the 62nd minute when McDonald and Kugler traded places to make it 2-0.
From the left corner, Kugler crossed a ball to McDonald who one-time a shot from about 10 yards out, past a diving Ryann Waldman and into the center of the goal. It was McDonald’s second goal of the season as well.
The Gauchos won the game despite the absence of head coach Paul Stumpf who was serving a one game suspension after being ejected from the team’s 1-1 tie at UCLA on Sunday.
“The key was, we were very successful at practice and were able to create many opportunities on the field,” said assistant coach Hamid Sedehi, who guided UCSB on the bench Friday. “Paul’s (game) plan was perfect and the players executed it very well. We pretty much just sat on the bench and watched the team play.”
Santa Barbara had a 20-4 shot advantage including 9-2 in shots on goal.
Weber State could muster just one shot in the second half. The Wildcats, however, kept things close as Waldman collected seven saves. UCSB’s freshman goalkeeper Makenna Henry was once again solid as she posted her third complete game shutout of the season.
Kugler was as active offensively as she has been all season. The senior from San Clemente, had eight shots, including five on frame. McDonald added three shots, two of which were on goal.
UCSB is now a perfect 4-0 at Meredith Field at Harder Stadium, where they will host Oklahoma on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. The Sooners were 4-1 losers at USC on Friday afternoon.
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