UC Riverside
UC Santa Barbara
Highlanders Defense Can't Slow Down #18 UC Santa Barbara
10/14/2008 2:21:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Gauchos Pick Up 5-1 Conference Win
The UC Riverside Men's Soccer Team (3-9-1, 0-4-0) has been struggling on the offensive end of the field of late scoring just five goals in the past six games. Starring at them from across the pitch Tuesday evening was the 18th ranked team in the nation, UC Santa Barbara (7-4-2, 2-1-1).
Not exactly the cure the Highlanders were looking for as the Gauchos, the second highest scoring team in the Big West, were coming off of their first blanking in more than a year - a 2-0 loss to 14th ranked UC Davis.
UCSB got on the scoreboard early as Chris Pontius beat Ryan Schmitz (San Diego, CA) on the right side at the 16:18 mark for his 10th goal of the season - second most in the conference this year. Nick Perera scored his third and fourth goals of the season for the Gauchos over the next 11-plus minutes and Alfonso Motagalvan added his fourth score of the year to give UC Santa Barbara more than it needed heading into the locker room at the half. The Gauchos outshot the Highlanders 16-2 in the period while Schmitz made 7of his 10 saves before the break.
UC Riverside finally got on the board just over five minutes into the second half as Joel Crompton (Pleasanton, CA) scored his fourth goal of the year, and his third in two games, from five yards out. But that was all the scoring the Highlanders could muster. The Gauchos picked up an insurance goal with 17:58 to play for the 5-1 final.
Things don't get any easier for UCR as they return home this Saturday for a meeting with UC Davis. Kick off is scheduled for 6 pm at the UC Riverside Soccer Stadium.
