| 2025 Big West Women's Soccer Championship Semifinal Round - No. 5 seed UC Santa Barbara 1, No. 1 seed CSUN 1 (UCSB Advances on PKs) |
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After No. 1 seed and host CSUN and fifth-seeded UC Santa Barbara battled to a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes on the pitch on Thursday at Matador Soccer Field, advancement came down to penalty kicks. The Gauchos came away with the 3-2 shootout win to earn the right to defend their Championship title in the 2025 Big West Women's Soccer Championship.
UCSB (13-4-5) is set to take on second-seeded Cal Poly in a postseason edition of the Blue-Green Rivalry on Sunday at 1 p.m., from Northridge. This will mark the fourth time that the Gauchos and Mustangs will face off for the crown with Cal Poly taking two titles and UCSB earning one. The last finale meeting came in 2009, decided 5-4 in penalty kicks in San Luis Obispo, Calif., as the Gauchos earned their second of three trophies.
Olivia Howard of UCSB initiated the shootout with a successful attempt under the goalkeeper's outstretched arm, matched by Paige Califf's top-shelf strike for CSUN. After Sophia Moness missed for UCSB, Cailey Jackson's effort for the Matadors also failed to connect. Isabella Ong scored for UCSB after burying the ball in the top left corner, answered by Jordyn Canister's successful shot for CSUN. Emma Corcoran's miss for the Gauchos kept the score level, but Lia Peterson followed suit for the Matadors to send it to the fifth kick in a deadlock. Ava Dermott placed the ball low and away to the right to put all the pressure on CSUN's Cassidy Imperial-Pham. The senior's try was denied to give UCSB the chance to go for a second-straight title.
Early in the first half, UCSB gained an advantage when Corcoran scored with an assist from Mya Delaney at the 15:53 mark, giving UCSB a 1-0 lead. The Matadors had several opportunities to equalize, with shots from Califf and Canister, but Maddie Buckley effectively defended the goal with the Gauchos maintaining the lead at the break.
The second half saw the home side aggressively pushing to even the score. Canister had several attempts, including a shot saved by Buckley in the 68th minute and another striking the top woodwork in the 83rd minute. The decisive moment came in the 89th minute when Califf converted a penalty kick, leveling the score at 1-1.
Twenty minutes of golden-goal overtime ensured, with UCSB seeing a great chance off the foot of Dermott at 105:12, which was saved by Riley Liebsack to keep the score knotted and set up the eventual penalty kick shootout.
The Matadors outshot their opponent 21-9, with six shots on goal, while the defense limited the Gauchos to just four shots on goal. Both goalkeepers recorded crucial saves, with Liebsack making three saves throughout the match.
Buckley anchored the defense for UCSB, making five saves to keep the match in balance. Corcoran contributed offensively with one goal, scoring on both regulation and penalty kick attempts. Delaney provided the sole assist in the contest with Dermott active in the attacking third, recording two shots with one on target.
Califf stood out for CSUN with a goal and four shots, two of which were on target. Canister led the team in creating opportunities with seven shots, three of which were on goal as the Matadors challenged the defense throughout the match.
CSUN closes the season as regular-season champions under the direction of Big West Coach of the Year Gina Brewer, holding an overall record of 8-7-5.