Oct. 21, 2005
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - Behind three second half goals, the Pacific Tigers women's soccer team defeated UCSB, 3-2, on Friday, October 21. The win gave the Tigers their eighth home win of the 2005 season, setting a program record for home victories in a season, surpassing the previous mark of seven, which was done four times in Pacific's history. The win also moved the Tigers to 10-6-1 overall and 3-3 in Big West Conference play. UCSB, meanwhile, fell to 7-10 on the season and 1-4 in the conference.
Needing another win to continue their march towards the postseason, the Tigers once again delivered, winning their third straight game.
For the first time in her three year career, junior Jennifer Smiley (Carmichael, Calif.) netted the Tigers a game winning goal, coming through when the Tigers needed it most. Smiley notched her third goal of the season in the 76th minute of the match as she converted the Tigers' third penalty kick of the game, beating Jaime Considine, the Gauchos' goalkeeper.
In a game filled with physical play, including a combined 36 fouls and six cards, both teams took advantage when given free kicks. The Tigers were awarded three penalty kicks on the night as they were dragged down three times after breaking free within UC Santa Barbara's penalty box. Junior Catherine Betts (Piedmont, Calif.) made the most of her time on the field, as she earned two of the three penalty kicks for the Tigers on the night. The second penalty kick earned by Betts resulted in Smiley's game-winner.
Early in the second half, the Tigers found themselves down a goal after the Gauchos turned a free kick into the first score of the game. Genelle Ives headed in the first of her two scores on the night after taking a crossing pass from Katrina Wright, who took UC Santa Barbara's free kick well outside the top left corner of the Tigers' penalty box.
Despite the deficit, the Tigers' roared back on the foot of sophomore Bunny Dickson (Millbrae, Calif.) as Dickson netted the game's next two goals. Dickson's first of the night came on the Tigers' second penalty kick as she was blindsided in the bottom corner of the box while trying to kick a cross into the middle of the attack. Her goal came two minutes after UC Santa Barbara's first goal. Six minutes later, Dickson struck again, beating Considine to a free ball after which she calmly popped the ball into the back of the open net to give the Tigers' the one goal lead. Dickson received the through ball from sophomore Mandi Van Dorn (Danville, Calif.) giving Van Dorn four assists on the season, tying her for the team lead. The two goals gives Dickson five goals in the Tigers' last four games and six on the season, giving her the team lead in goals from Van Dorn.
After Smiley's goal gave the Tigers some breathing room with a two goal lead, the Gauchos mounted a late comeback as the duo of Ives and Wright struck again, taking advantage of another Pacific foul.
Defensively, both 'keepers made two saves on the night as sophomore Jaime Souza (Gig Harbor, Wash.) faced 10 shots to Considine's six.
The Tigers will look to secure the fourth and final postseason berth this Sunday, October 23, as they travel to Cal Poly to take on the Mustangs. The game is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
