UC Santa Barbara, the #12 seed in the NCAA Tournament, begins its road toward a second consecutive national crown against Washington Wednesday night at Harder Stadium. The Gauchos return to action for the first time since a 1-1 tie against UC Riverside in their season finale November 17. The winner between UCSB and UW advances to the round of 16 to face either #5 seed Ohio State or Louisville.
UCSB (12-3-4, 9-1-2 Big West) will be making their sixth-straight and seventh overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The national seed marked just the second time in program history that the Gauchos earned one of the top 16 slots in the national tournament. The only other time came in 2004 when UCSB was awarded a #9 seed following a 17-2-1 season in which they were ranked #1 in the nation for seven weeks. The Gauchos have an unblemished mark at home in opening round (first or second round) play, going 5-0-0 in five matches at Harder Stadium.
UCSB, the defending national champion, enters the postseason with an seven-match unbeaten streak (6-0-1), playing its best soccer of the season. Offensively, UC Santa Barbara is a balanced club loaded with scoring options. Junior forward Chris Pontius, the 2007 Big West Offensive Player of the Year, leads the Big West in goals (11) and points (24), while talented sophomore transfer Ciaran O’Brien, the 2007 Midfielder of the Year, has picked up seven goals and a conference-best nine assists for 23 points. Throw in the talents of 2007 Hermann Award candidate junior Eric Avila (4g, 8a), senior Tino Nunez (5g, 5a) and sophomore Alfonso Motagalvan (4g, 4a) and UCSB has a ton of weapons opposing defenses have to account for.
Defense delivered the Gauchos a title in 2006 and has been a huge part of their success in 2007. The conversation starts with three-time All-America and two-time Hermann Award candidate senior Andy Iro, the three-time Big West Defensive Player of the Year. Rountinely assigned to the opposition’s top forward, Iro is part of a defense that has allowed just 19 goals in as many matches, including just 11 in 12 conference matches. The defense isn't just limited to Iro as senior Greg Curry, sophomore Jon Curry, senior Brennan Tennelle and freshman Michael Boxall have been instrumental parts of UCSB’s backline. The man in net is fresman Bryant Rueckner, who delivered a solid season after redshirting a year ago. He tallied a 0.95 goals against average, 50 saves and shut out five opponents.
Washington (9-7-4, 3-4-3 Pac-10) received an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament and won its opening round match against Portland, 1-0, in Seattle last weekend. Despite the Huskies record, they are a formidable opponent with wins over NCAA participants SMU, New Mexico, Furman, UCLA and the Pilots. UCSB and UW have played five times in their series history, with Washington winning four of those matches. The last match in the series was back in the 20th century as the Huskies pounded the Gauchos in Seattle by a 9-1 count on October 9, 1998. The two clubs have never played a match in the NCAA Tournament against each other.
On the offensive side, Washington is a fast starting group, having outscored its opponents 14-10 in the first half, outshooting them 117-92 and collecting 55 cornerkicks to 35 for the opposition. UW's offense centers around an excellent player in Pac-10 Co-Player of the Year Ely Allen. Allen's deft strikes have resulted in 12 tallies this season, 41% of the total goals scored by the Huskies this season. He is also a clutch performer as five of his goals have been game-winners, including a penalty kick late in the contest against Portland. Giving Allen support are second team All-Pac-10 selections Raphael Cox (3g, 2a) and Ellis McLoughlin (3g, 3a).
Defensively, Washington is a stingy group having allowed 23 goals in 20 matches for a 1.37 goals against average to go along with eight shutouts. First team All-Pac-10 selection George John and second team choice Casey Cunningham are the leaders for the Huskies, anchoring a defense that has allowed one goal or less in four of the last six matches. The man between the pipes is Stephen Fung, a keeper that has posted a 1.16 goals against average, collected 55 saves and shut out five opponents.
The Pac-10 picked up its first win over the Big West this season by virtue of California's 2-1 double-overtime win over UC Davis last weekend in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The loss gave the Big West a 3-1-2 record against the Pac-10.
PACIFIC 10 (3-1-2)
Aug. 31 - UC Santa Barbara 2, at Stanford 2 (2OT)
Sept. 3 - UC Riverside 2, at San Diego State 0
Sept. 7 - at UC Davis 3, Oregon State 1
Sept. 29 - at Cal State Northridge 3, UCLA 0
Sept. 29 - UC Irvine 0, at San Diego State 0 (2OT)
Nov. 23 - at California 2, UC Davis 1 (2OT)