The 12th annual Big West Men’s Soccer Tournament concludes on Friday with a highly anticipated championship match between the top two seeds – No. 1 UC Davis and No. 2 UC Santa Barbara. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. from Aggie Soccer Field in Davis, Calif.
It is the first meeting between these two clubs in the finals. UCSB enters the game ranked nationally in Soccer America (No. 15), United Soccer Coaches (No. 16) and Top Drawer Soccer (No. 18). UC Davis is also recognized in the top 25 by all three organizations, checking in at No. 16 (Soccer America), No. 19 (Top Drawer Soccer) and No. 24 (United Soccer Coaches).
The Gauchos have been ranked top 25 for seven straight weeks by Top Drawer Soccer and Soccer America. The Aggies have a current three-week stint in Soccer America.
The two schools have met twice in the Big West Tournament. UCSB won both times in the semifinal round, 1-0 in 2015 and 2-1 in 2011.
The winner of this match will earn the Big West’s automatic bid to the 48-team NCAA Tournament. The Men’s Soccer Selection Show will take place on Monday, November 18 at 10:00 a.m. (PT) on NCAA.com.
The Big West Tournament has produced champions from five different schools in its 11-year history. This year’s finalists have combined for just one title (UCSB, 2010).
Top-seeded UC Davis is aiming for its first tourney title after having reached the finals on three separate occasions (2012, 2017, 2018). The Aggies have fallen in the title game in each of the last two years to penalty kicks – UC Riverside (2018) and Cal State Fullerton (2017). UC Davis is 0-1-2 all-time in the championship match.
UCSB is back in the tournament finals for the first time since 2015 and for the sixth time overall. The Gauchos are 1-4 in title games. Overall, four of the last five finals have gone to double overtime or penalty kicks.
Total Tournament Titles For 2019 Field
| Cal Poly |
None |
| Cal State Fullerton |
2014, 2015, 2017 |
| CSUN |
2012, 2016 |
| UC Davis |
None |
| UC Irvine |
2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 |
| UC Santa Barbara |
2010 |
THROW INS
Something Gotta Give?
UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara enter the Big West Tournament final with a pair of impressive streaks. The Aggies are unbeaten at Aggie Soccer Field this season (6-0-1) and in eight straight dating back to last season’s home finale. The Gauchos have yet to lose in eight road games this season, compiling a 5-0-3 record.
All-Conference Action
UC Davis and UCSB cleaned up when the Big West’s all-conference team was announced on Tuesday. The Gauchos (5) and Aggies (3) combined for eight of the 13 first-team selections. UCSB earned three major awards with Noah Billingsley (Defensive Player of the Year), Thibault Candia (Co-Midfielder of the Year) and Finn Ballard McBride (Freshman of the Year). UC Davis countered with Wallis Lapsley (Goalkeeper of the Year) and Dwayne Shaffer (Coach of the Year).
Leaderboard Lingo
The Big West Tournament finals features the Big West’s top two defenses as UC Davis is No. 1 in goals against average (0.64) and fewest goals allowed (12), while UC Santa Barbara is No. 2 in GAA (0.89) and tops in shutouts (10). UCSB also sports the league’s most potent offense with 37 goals, 35 assists and 109 points. Gaucho freshman Finn Ballard McBride is tied for the conference lead with nine goals on an efficient 18 shots taken. Top goal scorer for the Aggies is senior Adam Mickelson with four. UC Davis features a balanced scoring attack with 14 different players having scored at least one goal this season.
Regular Season Champs
UC Davis captured its third Big West regular season title after claiming North Division titles in 2012 and 2017. The Aggies allowed just three goals in conference play to finish 5-1-1 for 16 points. UC Davis posted four shutouts in Big West play led by the core of goalkeeper Wallis Lapsley, and defenders Nabi Kibunguchy and Jake Haupt. Regular season champions have typically had a good shot at continuing the success in the league tournament. Previous dual winners have occurred in 2008 (UC Irvine), 2011 (UC Irvine), 2012 (CSUN - South Division), 2013 (UC Irvine – South Division), 2015 (Cal State Fullerton – South Division), 2016 (CSUN – South Division) and 2017 (Cal State Fullerton – South Division).
Rave Reviews For RPI
The NCAA’s fifth Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) report for men’s soccer came out on Monday and the Big West landed all eight schools in the top 100 for the fourth straight week. UCSB moved up eight spots to a season-high No. 16, putting the Gauchos squarely in position for a top 16 seed and first-round bye in the NCAA Tournament. UC Davis has vaulted 27 spots in the last three weeks at a season-best No. 22.
Perfect Ten
Three squads have reached the 10-win mark this season – Cal State Fullerton, UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara. The trio sports a combined record of 36-14-7. UCSB’s 2-0 win against UC Riverside on Oct. 16 was the team’s 10th, representing the 19th time in the 21-year head coaching tenure of Tim Vom Steeg that his program has hit the mark. Dwayne Shaffer’s Aggies earned win No. 10 on Oct. 26 on a golden goal in overtime against CSF. It is the third straight year the UC Davis program has achieved double-digit wins. For the fifth time in six years with George Kuntz at the CSF helm, the Titans secured a 10-win season, achieving the feat with an Oct. 23 win against UCI.
In The National Rankings
Big West individuals and teams are ranked among in the top 10 in several NCAA categories.
– UC Santa Barbara’s Will Baynham is tied for No. 8 in game-winning goals with five.
• Cal State Fullerton’s Paul-Andre Guerin ranks No. 1 in goalie minutes played (1869:34) and UC Santa Barbara’s Ben Roach is No. 4 (1809:06).
• UC Davis goalkeeper Wallis Lapsley is tied for No. 9 nationally with an .818 save percentage.
• CSUN’s Daniel Trejo is tied for No. 3 in shot accuracy (.667), with 38 of his 57 shots on goal.
• Roach is tied for No. 3 nationally with 10 shutouts.
• CSUN’s Julio Rubio is tied for No. 6 nationally in total assists (9).
• Guerin is No. 2 in total saves (96).
• UC Davis ranks No. 7 in team save percentage (.824).
Overtime Opera
Forty-nine games have been played in the history of the Big West Tournament, and 15 of those have gone to overtime.
Close Calls
UC Davis is 6-3 in games decided by one goal and UC Santa Barbara is 4-1.