Edhat Staff
In a thrilling overtime victory, the UC Santa Barbara Men’s Soccer team secured its place in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a “golden goal” win against the UCLA Bruins on Thursday night.
Nicolas Willumsen emerged as the hero of the match, scoring the game-winning goal less than three minutes into overtime, propelling the Gauchos to a 1-0 victory over the Bruins.
The intense match held at UCLA saw both teams locked in a scoreless tie at the end of regulation time, setting the stage for a dramatic finish in overtime. Willumsen’s decisive strike not only clinched the win for Santa Barbara but also symbolized a remarkable turnaround for the team, following a disappointing loss that had cast doubts on their tournament prospects.
Head Coach Tim Vom Steeg couldn’t hide his excitement over the win, praising his team’s resilience and strategic gameplay. “We went from not thinking we would be in the tournament after a very disappointing loss to be able to rebound and play arguably our best game of the year against a quality opponent,” Vom Steeg remarked. He highlighted the team’s tactical approach to maintaining possession and putting pressure on UCLA’s defense as key to their success.
This victory marks UC Santa Barbara’s 22nd win in NCAA Tournament play, bolstering their impressive all-time record to 22-12-2. Notably, it is their second postseason win over UCLA, with their first being the memorable 2006 National Championship game. Furthermore, this match broke the pattern of previous encounters with UCLA in the NCAA Tournament, which had all been decided by a 2-1 scoreline.
The Gauchos also celebrated their 14th NCAA Tournament shutout, their first since a double-overtime victory against Indiana in 2019. This win reflects the team’s enduring strength in high-stakes matches, improving their overtime record in the tournament to 6-4-2 since their first appearance in 2002.
Looking ahead, UC Santa Barbara is set to face No. 16 national seed Stanford on Sunday at 5 p.m. in Palo Alto. This second-round match marks the first NCAA Tournament meeting between the Gauchos and the Cardinal, promising fans an exciting continuation of Santa Barbara’s postseason journey.
As the Gauchos prepare for their upcoming challenge against Stanford, their recent triumph over UCLA serves as a testament to their skill, determination, and strategic precision. With the team’s sights set on further success in the tournament, UC Santa Barbara’s road to glory continues to captivate soccer fans everywhere.
