UCSB’s Sydney Fuertes
Junior Sydney Fuertes (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente HS) played a centerpiece role for a UC Santa Barbara defense that shut down a pair of conference opponents, earning her Big West Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week recognition.
Fuertes played every minute of both wins against Cal Poly (4-0) and UC Davis (2-1) as a defensive stopper. The two opponents managed just a combined 13 shots in 180 minutes of action. UC Davis was able to muster just two shots on goal, with its lone goal resulting off a Gaucho turnover.
Fuertes and the Gauchos have won 10 of their last 12 matches, are now 10-4-1 overall and 3-1 in Big West play. Their nine points in the standings rank them tied for third. UCSB will play a pair of home matches this weekend, hosting UC Riverside on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. and UC Irvine on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. The game against Riverside is Senior Night and the team’s seniors will be saluted in a pre-game ceremony.
