UCSB concluded its men’s soccer season with a 1-0 loss to Cal Poly on Saturday evening at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
UCSB ends the season with a 10-6-3 overall record and a 4-5-1 mark in Big West play. The Gauchos finished fourth in the league’s North Division with 13 total points. Cal Poly improved to 11-6-1 and 6-3-1 in conference games, which secures the Mustangs a spot in the Big West Tournament with a second-place finish in the division behind UC Davis.
The match drew a sellout crowd of 11,075 fans, marking the second consecutive sellout crowd for an UCSB-Cal Poly match-up at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
The lone goal of the game came in the 77th minute. Mike Hocker chipped the ball from midfield and Gaucho goalkeeper Austin Mansker was unable to make a clean reception. While the ball was loose in front of Mansker, Chris Gaschen was able to gain possession in the scramble and pass it to George Maki, who sent the ball towards the back post from the top of the six-yard box. The goal was Malki’s first of the season.
While UCSB out-shot the Mustangs, 5-4, in the first half, Cal Poly had a 6-1 advantage in the second. Dion Acoff, who led the Gauchos with two shots, had the lone UCSB shot on-goal in the seventh minute.
Mansker made two saves in the loss while Wade Hamilton needed to make just one on his way to the shutout.
The match marked the last collegiate game for seniors André Grandt, Nic Ryan, Josue Madueno, Machael David, Dion Acoff and Mac Cerceo.
