After just 54 seconds, UC Santa Barbara took control and never looked back.
The Cal State Northridge Matadors lost their Big West Conference season opener 3-0 to the Gauchos Friday in Santa Barbara. The loss, CSUN’s third straight, marked the first time this season that the team dropped under .500.
UC Santa Barbara picked up three first-half goals from three different players en route to their victory, including one in the opening minute of play. Junior Genelle Ives took a cross from sophomore Kylie McDonald and headed it past Leah Elliot for the quick 1-0. It was the fifth goal of the season for Ives, tying her for first place on her squad.
The Gauchos struck again in the 27th minute. After yet another cross, this time by junior Jacqui Simon, junior Sarah Stoltz headed the ball past Elliot to double the UC Santa Barbara lead. The goal was her second this season.
While UCSB cruised, the Matadors struggled to even create opportunities to get back into the game. They registered just three first-half shots, with only one of them, a Kristal Phillips shot, coming on goal
Before the first half could come to an end, Santa Barbara added a third goal. Junior Kacey Doherty scored the third header of the game past Elliot. Two players were credited with assists on the play: senior Michelle Russell and freshman Alissa Sanchez. It was Dohrety’s first score of the year.
The frustration began to show for the Matadors as they picked up a team yellow card from the bench in the 40th minute of action.
The second half was much of the same story as the first, except there were no goals scored. The Gauchos continued to control the pace and the ball, and still played stingy defense on the Matadors.
After 25 minutes, Northridge couldn’t register a single shot. Santa Barbara continued to attack, forcing Elliot to make three saves. The Gauchos even slammed three shots against the crossbar.
Mass substitutions were made for Northridge, which basically signaled the beginning of the end. Sophomore Katie Fox and senior Nalena Betancourt were both subbed out for the first time all season long.
Sophomores Michelle Moore and Farryn Townley got the Matadors last two looks in the final three minutes, but both shots traveled wide and that was the end.
For UC Santa Barbara, it was redemption over last year’s defeat to Northridge. They now lead the all-time series 10-4. For the Matadors, it was a second consecutive Big West season-opener loss as they continued their sub-par play after starting 2008 on fire. The loss made them winless in six games and prevented them from getting the program’s 100th victory for a while longer.
The Gauchos finished with a corner kick advantage of 5-1, along with a 19-5 shot advantage in the game. Their three goals scored marked the first time all year that Northridge has allowed more than two goals in a single contest. Ives led all players with five shots, two of them on goal. No Matador was credited with more than one shot attempt.
It was the third time this year that Northridge was held scoreless. It was also the biggest margin of defeat they have seen thus far in 2008.
CSUN freshman Nicole Cruz was shown the first yellow card of her career in the match. UC Santa Barbara’s Ives also picked one up.
Northridge’s second match of the conference season went down Sunday as the Matadors visited San Luis Obispo to face the Cal Poly Mustangs.
