Box Score DAVIS, Calif. – Despite its best efforts, the UC Santa Barbara men's soccer team was defeated by UC Davis 2-0 in the Big West Tournament Final on Friday afternoon at Aggie Soccer Field.
Goals from the Aggies' (13-4-2) Andy Velasquez and Kristian Heptner downed the Gauchos (12-4-4) in their bid for the program's second conference tournament trophy.
UCSB was outshot 8-1 in the first half, and sophomore goalkeeper Ben Roach was tasked with making three saves to keep the Aggies from making good on their chances in the opening 45 minutes.
In the 55th minute, a turnover in the midfield gave the Aggies control on the left wing as Andy Velasquez played a one-two with Mejia and the latter flicked it into space on the left side of the box for Velasquez to slot past Roach to put UC Davis ahead.
Santa Barbara put together several chances in search of an equalizer, but a lack of control in the midfield and UC Davis' tough defending disrupted the fluidity of the visitors' play.
The Gauchos had one last chance to tie the game in the final minute of the match, when senior attacking midfielder Thibault Candia whipped in a ball from the left corner flag that the entire team crowded the box to try to get on the end of, including the goalkeeper Roach.
Candia delivered the ball and it hit the feet of senior striker Derek Kryzda before he had a shot blocked and the rebound was booted upfield from the UC Davis defense to forward Adam Mickelson, who sent Heptner through onto goal to side-foot the ball into an empty net to win UC Davis its first Big West Tournament title and return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008.
"Take nothing away from UC Davis- they competed and played their way. I didn't think we matched their intensity," said UCSB head coach Tim Vom Steeg after the game.
The Gauchos await their fate in the NCAA Tournament and will find out who and when they play during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday at 10 a.m. The show will be livestreamed on NCAA.com. The first round of the NCAA Tournament is scheduled to take place on Thursday, Nov. 21.
"This team has earned the right to play in the NCAA Tournament. In 2006, we were the last team selected. Maryland started 8-6 and won the national championship last year. The whole point is to get in, and then once you get in every game starts 0-0," added Vom Steeg.
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