SAN JOSE – UCSB scored a goal in each half and sophomore goalkeeper Beth Ritter came up with a career-high six saves in a 2-0 win at San Jose State on Sunday afternoon. It was the Gauchos fourth straight win — their longest streak in five years — all by way of shutouts.
“This was quite a weekend,” said head coach Paul Stumpf. “This team just kind of rolls with the punches and that’s really starting to pay divivdends.”
Stumpf was referring to the fact that an hour out of Santa Barbara, UCSB’s bus had a flat tire and the team had to wait on the side of the road for more than three hours before continuing north to San Jose.
“We were hoping to get to the hotel, relax, get something to eat and then go to the (San Jose) Earthquakes game,” he said. “We wound up getting to the 7:30 game at 7:50 and then we were supposed to have food delivered at eight, but before we knew it, it was 8:10 then 8:20, then 8:30, but this team made the best of it and some how came up with a 2-0 win today.”
Despite being outshot 6-1 in the first half, the Gauchos led 1-0 at the break. In the 18th minute, Dakota Griggs played a ball in to Angelisa Cortez who went one-on-one against the goalkeeper and scored from about 15 yards out. It was the first goal of the season for Cortez.
“Once again, we changed things up in the second half,” Stumpf said. “They were a little fresher than us. We played on Friday and they didn’t, but the second half was more even.”
Actually, it wasn’t even as UCSB doubled its advantage at 65:02 when Ali Ariniello got the ball to Madison Beckley. Beckley unleashed a shot that was re-directed by Indiana Mead, past Spartan goalkeeper Zoe Makrigiannis. It was Mead’s second goal of the season.
The Gauchos were outshot 13-6 overall, but only 6-4 in shots on goal.
Ritter was up to the challenge in goal as she saved all six of San Jose’s on-frame shots. She was also a little lucky.
“They had a PK against us and it hit the post,” Stumpf said. “That was a little lucky, but sometimes you create your own luck and this team is fiinding a way to do that.
UCSB is now 5-2-1 on the season and has won all five of its games by way of shutout. San Jose State, which was playing its first home game of the season, drops to 0-7-0.
The Gauchos return to action on the road next weekend when they travel to Albuquerque, N.M., for games against the University of New Mexico on Friday, Sept. 20 and Texas Tech on Sunday, Sept. 22.
