Second Straight Shutout Loss for USD
Soccer News: The USD men’s soccer team (4-4-2) fell at UC Santa Barbara 4-0 Sunday evening in front over 2,000 fans. The Gauchos scored an early goal and then two more in the second half as USD suffered their second straight shutout loss.
The Gauchos immediately put the pressure on the Gaucho defense forcing Thomas Olsen to make a couple of nice saves in the first five minutes. In the ninth minute, following a Torrey DeArmas foul, UCSB had a free kick from the left corner of the 18 yard line box. The Gauchos attempt went off the Torero wall, but the rebound led to another shot attempt. Olsen made the initial save, but his deflection went to Sam Strong, who capitalized to give UCSB an early 1-0 lead.
The Toreros had their opportunities in the first half with a couple shots on goal. In the 16th minute, Michael Turner had some space down the right side. After cutting towards the goal, he attempted a pass in the middle of the box to Eric Budniewski, but a Gaucho defender poked it away at the last minute.
Eight minutes later, Marvin Schmiege launched a shot from 20 yards out that Gauchos’ goalkeeper Justin Vom Steeg stopped with a diving stop to his right. The Toreros’ closest shot came in the 34th minute when Torrey DeArmas was dribbling to his right at the top of the box and fied back to his left to the back post where Vom Steeg made another diving stop.
Things quickly unraveled for the Toreros in the second half. The Gauchos scored two goals in a 76 second span to take an insurmountable lead. In the 59th minute, Ahinga Selemani scored on a left-footed rocket that snuck in the near post off Olsen’s hands. A minute later, Nick DePuy finished a Josue Espana cross with a left footed volley. The Gauchos scored once more in the 83rd minute on an unassisted goal from Jonah Adomakoh.
After holding a 4-3 lead in shots at halftime, the Gauchos had ten (six on goal) in the second half, while USD had none.
Olsen made four saves, but USD gave up a season-high four goals.
The Toreros have next weekend off and then will kick off WCC play when the host LMU October 10 at 7:00 p.m.
The Gauchos will commence Big West action next week, as they travel to UC Irvine on Thursday night and Cal State Northridge on Saturday night.
