SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Junior
Candace Ching finished with a team-high four shots — including one that clanged off the crossbar in the 51st minute of a scoreless match — but host UC Santa Barbara converted a penalty six minutes later and escaped with a 1-0 victory over Sacramento State on Saturday night at Harder Stadium.
The Hornets, who took a point off UC Irvine at home earlier in the week in their first-ever Big West match, fell to 4-3-3 overall and 0-1-1 in conference play while the league preseason co-favorite Gauchos moved to 6-1-4 overall and 1-0-1 in The Big West.
Neither team could score during the run of play as the two teams went toe-to-toe and it was scoreless at the break before UC Santa Barbara was finally able to break through in the 58th minute.
A ball played into the box for Isabella Ong turned into a penalty as she was tripped from behind after making the turn. Emily Caughey then stepped to the spot and buried her attempt to the lower left side for what turned out to be the only score of the match.
Ching's four shots were just one off her season high of five set at Fresno State back on Sept. 3, while five other Hornets finished with attempts on the night.
UC Santa Barbara held a 14-9 advantage in shots, including putting five on frame to just three for Sacramento State. Hornet goalkeeper
Hayley Hartsburg, making her third consecutive start, finished with three saves on the night.
Week two of Big West play opens at home for Sacramento State, which hosts UC Riverside on Wednesday (Sept. 30) at 3 p.m., then makes a trip to Southern California to take on Long Beach State on Saturday (Oct. 3) at 7 p.m.
