Cal Poly Opens Big West Play with Home Match Against Rival UCSB

Thursday, September 15

San Luis Obispo, CA

7 P.M.

UC Santa Barbara

Tickets

Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics

Cal Poly Opens Big West Play with Home Match Against Rival UCSB

9/13/2022 10:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — After a five-game road trip spanning more than three weeks, Cal Poly women's soccer finally returns to the friendly confines of Alex G. Spanos Stadium on Thursday to host Blue-Green rival UC Santa Barbara in the Big West opener for both programs. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. and the first 250 students get a free T-shirt.

This is only the second home match for the Mustangs (2-5), who are fresh off one of their best performances of the season in a 3-2 loss at Washington State on Sunday.

The Gauchos (1-5-2) suffered a 1-0 defeat at Idaho on Sunday. UCSB ended a six-match winless streak to open the season on Sept. 8 with a 2-1 home victory over Fresno State. The Gauchos earned a 1-1 draw at Sacramento State on Aug. 25 and a 2-2 draw at home against San Jose State on Sept. 4.

FOLLOW CAL POLY: Thursday's match will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Zachary Anderson-Yoxsimer providing play-by-play alongside analyst and professional soccer player Grace Cutler. Follow Cal Poly women's soccer on Twitter (@CPWomensSoccer) for live updates throughout the match.

CAL POLY VERSUS UC SANTA BARBARA: The Mustangs are 16-8-8 all-time against UCSB. A 2-1 Cal Poly win over the Gauchos in Santa Barbara last season ended a streak of four straight ties between the two rivals. The Mustangs are hosting UCSB for the first time since 2018 after having the 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19 and are seeking their first victory over the Gauchos at Alex G. Spanos Stadium since a 2-0 win on Oct. 26, 2014.

SCOUTING UC SANTA BARBARA: The Gauchos went 8-9-3 overall last season and finished fourth in the Big West regular season standings with 19 points (6-3-1), falling to No. 1 seed UC Irvine 1-0 in the Big West semifinals. UCSB was picked to finish sixth in this year's Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Gauchos are led by sophomore midfielder Lauren Helwig, who has two goals and five points this season, and sophomore forward Meg Burling, who has two goals this fall. At goalkeeper, sophomore Taylor Little has started in three of the Gauchos' eight matches, including the last two, while senior Evann Smith owns five starts. As a team, UCSB is ranked third in the Big West in assists with nine and fourth in fouls per match (10.75). They also lead the conference in offside calls, averaging three per match.

SPREADING THE WEALTH: Cal Poly's six goals this season have all been scored by different players. Senior forward Olivia Ortiz and senior midfielder Megan Hansen each netted their first goals of the season in Sunday's loss at WSU. It was the seventh goal of Ortiz's career and the fifth for Hansen.

MAC HOLDING IT DOWN: Sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Samuel is averaging 8.40 saves per match this season, tied for first in the Big West and tied for the sixth best in Division I. Samuel recorded 10 saves in Sunday's match at WSU, marking her second double-digit save effort this season. Her 42 saves are tied for the most in the Big West and the 12th-most in the country. Through five starts, she owns a .764 save percentage and a 2.60 goals against average. As a team, Cal Poly ranks 23rd in Division I in saves per match.

AND STILL …: Freshman forward Emily Lieber remains atop the Big West, along with three other players, in assists with three. She assisted on game-winning goals against Minnesota and Sacramento State.

DISHING IT OUT: Sophomore McKenna Carbon earned her third career assist and second of the season Sunday in Pullman.

UP NEXT: Cal Poly continues a three-game homestand Thursday, Sept. 22, when they host San Diego at Alex G. Spanos Stadium. The non-conference match starts at 7 p.m.