DAVIS — UCSB’s French Connection delivered in the clutch to lift the 20th0-ranked Gauchos to a 3-2 Big West men’s soccer win over UC Davis in double overtime on Saturday.
Achille Campion converted a penalty kick to tie the score at 2-2 in the 88th minute and Goffin Boyoko scored the game-winner in the 109th minute, heading in a corner kick from Drew Murphy. It was the fourth game-winning goal by Boyoko.
UCSB has won its last three Big West road games in overtime, leaving it as the only unbeaten team in the conference at 5-0. The Gauchos, riding a six-game winning streak, are 10-4 overall. UC Davis fell to 6-7-1, 2-3.
Murphy gave UCSB a 1-0 lead in the first half. After Reed McKenna’s cross was deflected, Murphy stepped up and volleyed a perfect strike past UC Davis goalkeeper Armando Quezada.
The Aggies scored the equalizer in the 56th minute on a goal by Matt Weisenfarth and took a 2-1 lead when Alex Aguiar scored in the 78th minute.
With time winding down, the Gauchos pushed its players forward and Campion was taken down in the 18-yard box. He beat Quezada from the 12-yard spot to send the game into overtime at 2-2. It was his sixth goal of the season and it marked the third straight game the Gauchos were awarded a PK.
The Gauchos return to Harder Stadium this Tuesday night with a chance to clinch a playoff spot. With a win or draw against visiting Sacramento State, UCSB will book a place in the Big West Tournament, which would put the Gauchos in the postseason for the 11th time in the past 12 years.
