UCSB’s home soccer match against defending national champion Akron is one of two nationally televised matches that will feature the Gauchos this fall.
The Gauchos play Akron on Oct. 5. and host Cal Poly on Nov. 4 in NSCAA College Games of the Week on the Fox Soccer Channel.
Akron will be returning to Harder Stadium, where it won its first NCAA College Cup last December.
This marks the fourth consecutive season the Gauchos will play in two televised contests and the third time in the last four years that the Blue-Green Rivalry with Cal Poly will be played in front of a national audience. The Big West battle was rated the No. 1 men’s college soccer rivalry in the country by College Soccer News.
The Gauchos have been a hit on TV, posting a 7-2-3 record in televised matches, including a 5-2 mark when they’re on Fox Soccer.
The Akron and Cal Poly games are two of 12 home contests on the Gauchos’ slate this season. They kick off the year with the annual exhibition against cross-town foe Westmont on Aug. 20 before hosting official season opener against Seattle University on Aug. 27.
UCSB, which is loaded offensively with the return of forwards Sam Garza, Michael Nonni, David Opoku and St. John’s transfer Dominick Sarle and midfielders Luis Silva, Machael David, Peter McGlynn, Fifi Baden and Nic Ryan, begins preparing for the season on Aug. 11.
The home schedule includes matchups with Big East teams West Virginia and Villanova on the weekend of Sept. 9-11, future Big West member Sacramento State on Sept. 25 and Big West foes UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, UC Riverside and UC Davis.
