UCSB soccer schedule includes Stanford, UCLA

UCSB’s Nick DePuy led UCSB in scoring last season with 10 goals.

Looking to follow up on a 2014 campaign that saw UCSB soccer pick up its eighth Big West regular season championship while finishing at the top of the NCAA attendance leaderboard for the eighth consecutive season, the team’s 2015 schedule features two of the marquee powerhouses on the west coast, challenging road trips to New Mexico and New England, and a typically-rigorous conference slate.

After their annual exhibition contest against crosstown rival Westmont kicks off the season on Aug. 22, the Gauchos will welcome reigning Pac-12 Champion Stanford – and US Men’s National Team member Jordan Morris – to Harder Stadium on Aug. 28 to open the regular season.

Morris – who became the first college player to receive a cap with the USMNT since 1995 and the first collegiate to score a goal for the red, white, and blue since 1992 – and his Cardinal brethren are just one of a number of strong squads who will make the trip to Harder this season.

Other programs scheduled to appear in Santa Barbara this year include Akron – who won the 2010 College Cup hosted at Harder Stadium – 2014 NCAA Tournament participant San Diego and College of Charleston. Perennial conference rivals Cal Poly, Sacramento State, UC Davis, and UC Riverside will all make appearances as well.

The biggest road game of the season for UCSB will be played on Sept. 21 at UCLA’s Drake Stadium. The Gauchos and Bruins, who were runners-up in last year’s College Cup, have put together some of the most epic battles in west coast soccer over the past decade, including a 2-0 UCSB win in front of an NCAA-record 15,896 fans at Harder Stadium on Sept. 24, 2010.

Other key away contests include a tournament at New Mexico against the Lobos and 2014 NCAA Tournament participant Denver, a Sept. 13 showdown at UCONN, and vital conference games at UC Irvine, Cal State Northridge, and Cal Poly.

The Gauchos will welcome the Mustangs for their annual Blue-Green rivalry game on Oct. 24. Last year’s tussle at Harder drew a season-high 14,345 fans to the stadium; nothing new for the Gauchos and Mustangs, who have produced 10 of the 15 largest regular season, on-campus crowds in NCAA history.

UCSB opens its home Big West schedule on Oct. 8 by hosting UC Riverside.

Vom Steeg returns a number of key players to this year’s squad, including reigning Big West Offensive Player of the Year Nick DePuy (10 goals, including six game-winners) and 2014 MAC Hermann Trophy nominee Ismaila Jome.

An exciting incoming recruiting class that has been ranked as high as No. 5 in the nation features local standouts Justin Vom Steeg and Sam Strong, forwards Geoffrey Acheampong and Ahinga Selemani, and midfielders Kevin Feucht and Kosti Moni.