College Soccer News: UC Santa Barbara and UC Riverside Pick up Important Points in Big West Conference Women’s Soccer

Early Gauchos' Flurry Lifts UCSB Past Titans while Highlanders Earn Draw against Mustangs

UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) scored three times in a 15-minute span during the first half Friday night, including Erin Ortega's eventual game-winner in the 32nd minute, lifting the visiting Gauchos to a 4-2 victory over Cal State Fullerton at Titan Stadium. Meanwhile, UC Riverside (UCR) picked up their first points of the Big West Conference season Friday evening with a 1-1, double overtime tie against front-running Cal Poly.

The loss to Santa Barbara snapped the Titans' four-match winning streak, dropping them to 7-8 overall and 4-2 in conference play. It was the most goals allowed by Fullerton this season and the most since a 5-2 loss to Long Beach State on Oct. 17, 2010.

UCSB, which had won just once in its last eight contests and was outshot by an 18-9 count for the match, improved to 5-10-2 overall and 2-4-1 in conference play with the victory.

The Titans had the early chances, the best coming on a long run by Rebecca Wilson off a give-and-go with Christina Burkenroad that was saved by goalkeeper Makenna Henry as Wilson flipped head over heels after the collision in the fifth minute.

However, the Gauchos made the most of their only three shots of the first half, scoring on each attempt to carry a 3-1 lead into the locker room at the break. Indiana Mead (her second of the season) and Angelisa Cortez (her third) scored a minute apart. After Burkenroad got the Titans back to within a goal with her fifth of the year in the 25th minute, with an assist from Brisa Gonzalez, Erin Ortega netted the eventual game-winner just before the half (her second of the season) to give UCSB a cushion.

Mayra Almazan gave the Gauchos a three-goal lead in the 70th minute with her first of the year for the final Gaucho goal. The Titan’s Gonzalez made it a three-point night with her first of the season off passes by Wilson and Burkenroad at the 73-minute mark for the final score of the night.

Aside from their 18-9 shot advantage, led by a match-high six shots from Wilson (five of those on frame), the Titans also held a 7-1 lead in corner kicks, but were turned away by Henry and her nine saves. Fullerton junior goalkeeper Lindsey Maricic, who entered the night with a shutout streak of 358:36, made two saves in the loss.

At Riverside the visiting Mustangs (8-5-3, 5-0-2), who average a Big West best 2.07 goals per match, were coming off of a five-goal performance in a 5-2 win over Hawai'i. However, it was the Highlanders (5-9-3, 0-5-1) who scored first as Kaitlin Anzalone grabbed a loose ball in front of the Cal Poly goal and beat Mustangs keeper Alyssa Giannetti with just 2:05 gone in the match.

Cal Poly tied the score in the 15th minute of play as Sara Lancaster slotted a Kacey Held pass just inside the right post to even the match at one apiece.

Both teams had opportunities throughout the rest of the match, but neither could find the back of the net. UCR's Jessica White recorded 13 saves to keep the Mustangs off the board. That ties Tawny Poggio and Katie Black for second place on the Highlanders single-match saves list.

Cal State Fullerton concludes the home portion of its 2012 schedule on Sunday afternoon, October 21, at 1:00 p.m. as the Titans host league-leading Cal Poly at Titan Stadium. Fullerton's senior class will be honored in "Senior Day" ceremonies prior to kick off.

Next up for UC Riverside is a 1:00 p.m. home match on Sunday against UC Santa Barbara. Fans are encouraged to arrive early, as it is Senior Day for the Highlanders who will say goodbye to the Women's Soccer Class of 2013 in pre-match ceremonies.

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