Former UCSB soccer All-American Luis Silva scored the first of his professional career on Wednesday night, leading DC United to a 4-2 win over the Montreal Impact in a MLS match in Montreal.
Silva opened the game’s scoring in just the sixth minute after providing a diagonal run into the box and a first-touch finish of a brilliant Fabian Espindola pass, but United quickly fell behind after Montreal netted twice before the 21-minute mark.
United’s Nick DeLeon leveled the match at 2-2 just two minutes later, then Silva scored the eventual game-winner in the 39th with a spectacular sliding mid-range strike from a few yards outside the box. He tacked on an insurance penalty marker in stoppage time of the first half.
After combining for six goals in the first half, neither team managed to find the back of the net in the final 45 minutes, clinching the win for United.
Not only was it his first hat trick, but also the first multi-goal game of Silva’s MLS career. The three-goal night equaled his entire 2013 scoring tally.
The Los Angeles native now has 11 goals in his pro career: six with DC United and five with Toronto FC, where he spent his rookie season after being UCSB’s highest ever SuperDraft selection at fourth overall in 2012.
In his UCSB career, Silva totaled 28 goals and 23 assists for 79 points, fourth most in program history. His 44-point senior year in 2011 (17 goals, 10 assists) is tied for the most single-season points in program history and made the midfielder a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist and First Team All-American.
LOCALS LEAD TEAM USA
Dos Pueblos alum Kiley Neushul scored two goals in regulation time and converted the game-winner in a shootout, as the USA Women’s Senior National Water Polo Team opened play at the FINA World League Super Final with an 11-10 victory over Russia in Kunshan, China.
In the shootout, each team recorded a save through the first five shooters. In the sixth round, Neushul connected while Russian shooter Kseniia Krimer was blocked by DP alum Sami Hill.
Hill was the winning goalkeeper in an 8-5 win over Spain that gave the U.S. a 3-0 record in group play. Neushul scored two goals in the victory.
Santa Barbara High alum Kami Craig is also the U.S. squad.
