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Waipahu, Hawai'i - Needed nearly the full 20 minutes of overtime, No. 3 seed UC Santa Barbara secured a 3-2 victory over second-seeded UC Davis in the semifinal match of the 2024 Big West Women's Soccer Championship at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium in Waipahu, Hawai'i.
The Gauchos move to 8-5-8 on the season and advance to the Championship final for the first time since 2018 and the sixth time in program history. In those Championship matches, the Gauchos are 2-3, winning the title in 2008 and '09. Meanwhile, the Aggies close the 2024 campaign at 13-5-2 as The Big West regular-season runners-up for the third straight season.
UC Santa Barbara had several standout players contributing to their semifinals success. Goalkeeper
Maddie Buckley made six saves across 109 minutes, showcasing the defensive skills in net. Big West Freshman of the Year
Devin Greer was a key offensive player, leading the team with the game-winning goal and assisting on both additional second-half scoring plays.
Haley Phillips contributed to the UC Santa Barbara scoring with one goal from a single shot attempt coming in the 48th minute of play. Ten minutes later
O'Callaghan Liu recorded the strike, finishing with a game-high four total shots on goal.
UC Davis
' Teresa Garcia helped rally the Aggies back into the contest, scoring unassisted in the 74th minute.
Ashleigh Garcia punched in the goal to knot the contest at two apiece under three minutes later, assisted by the duo of
Sammie Ruelas and
Taylor Dever.
With the game tied at 2 apiece at the end of regulation and new golden goal overtime rules in place, both teams sought a game winner to avoid a penalty kick shootout. As the second of two 10-minute overtime periods was expiring an official review awarded a penalty kick to UC Santa Barbara. Greer capitalized on the chance from the spot with just 49 seconds on the clock to ice the contest and advance UCSB into the bracket to face the winner of No. 5 seed Cal State Bakersfield and top-seeded host Hawai'i on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. PT/11 a.m. HT.