Seniors Kylie McDonald and Erica Seidman each scored goals in the first half to lead visiting UCSB to a 2-1 win over UC Riverside in the Big West Conference opener for both teams on Friday night.
For Seidman, it was her team-leading fourth goal of the season. She entered 2010 with one goal. McDonald, who assisted on Seidman’s score, now has three goals and threee assists on the year. Senior midfielder Jacqui Simon and junior defender Kathleen Matthew added assists on McDonald’s goal.
The Gauchos (4-3-2 overall, 1-0-0 in the Big West) and Highlanders (1-8-2 overall, 0-1-0 in the Big West) were scoreless until the 14:18 mark when McDonald scored her goal. Seidman made the score 2-0 at 25:58 when she knocked-home a shot from the side and into the left post.
Riverside defender Candis Novis cut the lead in half when she stole a pass and converted, unassisted, at the 42:58 mark. The halftime score was UCSB 2, UCR 1.
Neither team scored in the second half.
UCSB outshot Riverside by a 26-11 margin including 9-3 in shots on goal. McDonald and Simon each had a game-high six shots while Novis had a team-high four for the Highlanders. In addition to their shot advantage, the Gauchos had a 10-2 corner kick advantage.
The Gauchos will remain on the road as they travel to Long Beach State on Sunday, Oct. 3, for a 1 p.m. game against the 49ers. They will return home on Friday, Oct. 8 to host Cal State Northridge in a 1p.m. game at Meredith Field at Harder Stadium.
