In a dramatic semifinal at UC Irvine’s Harder Stadium, the No. 3 seed UC Santa Barbara Gauchos secured a place in the Big West Championship final. After a scoreless 110‑minute battle, the Gauchos prevailed 4‑2 in the penalty shootout, earning the right to host the final on Friday, Nov. 13.
Key moments from the semifinal
The match began with the Anteaters dominating possession, keeping the Gauchos off the scoresheet for the first 50 minutes. Santa Barbara’s defense, anchored by All‑Big West back five Colby Renton, Calle Mollerberg, Drew Kamienski, Viggo Gustavsson and Peleg Brown, held firm.
Goalkeeper Owen Beninga made the first decisive play, smothering a low shot in the 42nd minute. He added another crucial save just before halftime, preserving the 0‑0 deadlock.
Early in the second half, UC Irvine’s First‑Team All‑Big West center back received a second yellow card after a VAR review and was ejected, giving the Gauchos a numerical advantage. Despite the extra man, Santa Barbara managed only three shots on goal, while the Anteaters threatened once, hitting the post in the 73rd minute.
Both overtime periods ended without a goal, sending the contest to penalties. Santa Barbara struck first, with forward Donovan Sessoms converting. UC Irvine answered, but Beninga’s towering six‑foot‑four frame denied their second‑round taker, who had not played in the match. The Gauchos then scored two of their remaining kicks, while Irvine missed its third and fourth attempts, sealing the shootout win.
Looking ahead to the championship
With the victory, the Gauchos will host the Big West Championship final at Harder Stadium for the third consecutive year. The Roadrunners, UC Irvine’s men’s soccer team, will travel to Santa Barbara for the title match on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m.
Tickets will be available soon through the UCSB athletics website and the Big West’s official channels. Students from UC Santa Barbara and all member institutions receive free admission with a valid campus ID.
The Gauchos’ run to the final underscores the program’s resilience and depth, highlighted by strong defensive play and clutch performances in high‑pressure moments.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
