SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Sacramento State took on Big West leading UC Santa Barbara Wednesday night on their home pitch at Harder Stadium and came up short, falling to the Gauchos, 3-0. 

With the loss, the Hornets are now 4-9-3 overall and 2-3-3 in Big West play. The Gauchos improve to 9-3-4 overall and remain unbeaten in league play, 5-0-2.

UC Santa Barbara did all of its damage in the first half, taking a 1-nil lead in the 32nd minute on a header off a corner kick. The Gauchos doubled their lead in the 42nd minute on a perfectly placed shot from the top of the box as Nemo Philip buried one in the near side of the net past the reach of a fully extended Ryan Curtis. 

Sacramento State managed to turn up the pressure in the second half, including good looks on back-to-back corner kicks in the 64th and 65th minutes, though without success. In the 72nd, Alejandro Padilla put an impressive header on a ball off a free kick, but had his shot blocked by a Gauchos defender and cleared out of danger.

UC Santa Barbara delivered the dagger in the 79th minute. After an excellent save by Crutis, UC Santa Barbara's Salvador Aguilar one-timed the rebound into the back of the net for the Gauchos' third goal of the match.

The Hornets refused to go away quietly and continued to develop chances late in the match, including another spectacular effort on a header by Bryan Gutierrez in the 84th that yet again was saved by the Gauchos' keeper, Leroy Zeller.

Despite the one-sided score, Sacramento State beat the Gauchos in shots on goal. Although UCSB led in total shots, 18-14, the Hornets put nine of their 14 shots on frame, compared to just six for the Gauchos. Zeller, who entered the match with a .791 save percentage, was perfect for UCSB on Wednesday, saving all nine attempts against him. 

Those nine shots on goal came from seven different players, a positive for the Hornets in an otherwise tough match. Titus Washington led all players on both sides in both shots and shots on goal, with six and three, respectively. 

With just two matches remaining, Sacramento State is still very much in tournament contention, though will need to come away with positive results Saturday at home against Cal State Fullerton before closing the regular season at UC Davis a week later. As of Wednesday night, the Hornets are seventh in the Big West with eight points, one spot and two points backs of the sixth-place UC Davis Aggies. Six teams advance to the Big West Conference tournament at the end of the regular season.

Sacramento State returns home for its next match, a Saturday afternoon contest against the visiting Cal State Fullerton at Hornet Field at 3 p.m. PT. Saturday is also Senior Day at Hornet Field as the program celebrates its six graduating seniors prior to kick off. Saturday's match will stream live online on ESPN+ with live stats available at HornetStats.com.