UCSB entered Friday night’s match against the University of San Francisco (3-3-3) with two goals in its first six outings, but during a 15 minute span of the first half the Gauchos (2-4-1) scored three goals to overcome a 1-0 deficit en route to a 3-1 win at Meredith Field at Harder Stadium.
Abigail Phillips gave USF a 1-0 lead just 3:14 into the match, pounding home a shot from the left corner of the goal box off of an assist from Mackenzie Krieser.
From that point on, it was all UCSB.
Freshman Sara Feder started the onslaught when she took a perfect through-ball from Lindsay Gankema and drove up the middle of the field, getting behind the defense. Feder faked USF goalkeeper Madalyn Schiffel one direction and directed a shot inside the right side of the goal to tie the game at 1-1. The goal, which came at the 19:21 mark, was the first of Feder’s career.
UCSB took a 2-1 lead at 24:59 when another freshman, Angelisa Cortez, received a pass from sophomore Indiana Mead, and pounded a one-timer from just outside the right side of the 18-yard box. It was the first goal of Cortez’s career.
The Gauchos kept the pressure on, scoring their third goal in the 35th minute.
Sophomore Miranda Cornejo made it 3-1 at the 34:14 mark when she blasted home a shot from just outside the box off of a short pass from Lauren Kennedy. The score was Cornejo’s team-leading second goal of the season.
Despite allowing three goals, the Dons’ Schiffel was outstanding between the pipes as she tried to withstand UCSB’s withering attack. Schiffel finished with eight of her team’s nine saves as the Gauchos posted season-highs of 21 shots and 12 shots on goal.
Santa Barbara, which has a two-game winning streak and is 2-1-1 in its last three games, returns to the pitch on Sunday, Sept. 16. The Gauchos will take-on Weber State at the Mather Sports Complex in Sacramento, Calif. They will play at Pepperdine on Friday, Sept. 21 before returning home on Sunday, Sept. 23 to host future Big West opponent San Diego State in a 2:00 p.m. match.
