UCSB will be without its starting goalkeeper and a key offensive player Saturday night when it takes on UC Davis in a Big West men’s soccer match at Harder Stadium.
Sam Hayden and Sam Garza are suspended for the 7 p.m. match after receiving red cards in Wednesday night’s 1-0 conference-opening, overtime loss at Cal State Fullerton.
Freshman Eric Reyes will make his first collegiate start in place of Hayden in goal. Reyes is a member of Puerto Rico’s Under-21 national team and was a two-time ESPN-RISE high school All-American at University High in Pembroke Pines, Fla.
In Garza’s place, UCSB will probably go with sophomore forward Michael Nonni.
UCSB (3-3-2, 0-1) will be looking to bounce back from its first loss in a conference opener since the Gauchos rejoined the Big West for soccer in 2001.
The Gauchos will be facing a UC Davis team that has a 2-6 record but has played a difficult schedule. Five of the losses have come against teams ranked in the top 10 in the West Region. The Aggies’ last game was a 1-0 defeat against Washington, which is ranked No. 23 in the country. They’ve beaten San Jose State and St. Mary’s.
Midfielder Lance Patterson is the Aggies’ top offensive player with four goals.
UCSB needs this win! Let’s go Gauchos!