UCSB has been down this path before.
Wednesday’s loss at Cal State Bakersfield wasn’t the first time the Gauchos stumbled out of the gate to start a men’s soccer season. In 2007, they tied Stanford and then fell to Gonzaga at home in their next match.
The 2005 season started with an uninspiring performance in a 2-0 loss to Cal at home. In ’03, they managed a tie against an inferior San Jose State squad.
As the Gauchos prepare to face a tough New Mexico team Saturday night (6 p.m. PDT) in Albuquerque, coach Tim Vom Steeg’s concern is whether some of his players can find their form again after a subpar performance at Bakersfield.
“I was disappointed with the fact we had between five, six and seven players not play particularly well,” he said of the Bakersfield match. He cited poor decisions on goal-scoring opportunities, bad defense in the midfield and 27 fouls called on his team.
“We had 20-plus fouls, which means 20-plus set pieces into your box,” he said. “You can’t let someone serve 25 balls into your box.”
Before the season-opening road trip, Vom Steeg envisioned getting a win at Bakersfield and getting out of New Mexico with a tie.
After their performance in a 1-0 loss at Bakersfield, gaining a tie might be too difficult.
New Mexico is coming off a 3-2 win over 25th-ranked Saint Louis and the Lobos are adding talented midfielder Matt Armstrong to their lineup. Armstrong transferred from Notre Dame, where he was a three-year starter.
“New Mexico is a legit top-20 team,” said Vom Steeg. “We go from playing a non-top 20 team to a top 20 team in one of the toughest places to play a game.
“In my mind,” he continued, in the first two games, that game would be the tough one. If you walk out with a tie, you’re OK with it.
“We got our hands full on Saturday.”
The last time the Gauchos played the Lobos in Albuquerque was in 2007 and they lost 2-1.
“We haven’t played well down there,” he said.
But, Vom Steeg is confident his talented squad can turn things around.
“We know we can play better than (we did at Bakersfield). We know we have to play better than that.”
