UCSB Soccer Ready for Showdown with UCLA

UCSB and UCLA have a long and colorful history together. Though the Bruins have the upper hand with a 33-5-4 record against the Gauchos all-time, some of the biggest wins in UCSB program history have come at the expense of their rivals to the south, including the 2006 National Championship game, 2010’s contest at Harder that drew an NCAA record 15,896 fans, and a 4-1 win last season at Drake Stadium, UCSB’s first-ever road win at UCLA. In the Tim Vom Steeg era (since 1999), UCSB is 3-8-3 against the Bruins with a respectable 3-4-2 mark since the 2006 title game.

• Harder Fortress
Returning to Santa Barbara this weekend should be a good thing for the Gauchos, who have been dominant at Harder Stadium in recent seasons. Since the start of the 2009 campaign, UCSB is 58-18-7 on its home turf for a .741 winning percentage, a tick below the program’s .749 mark (132-38-19) in the Tim Vom Steeg era (since 1999). Dating back to the 2014 season, UCSB is unbeaten in eight straight and 17 of its last 18 regular season home games. The Gauchos are also 12-2 all-time at home in the NCAA Tournament.

• Rankings Update
UCSB was tabbed as high as No. 13 in this week’s national polls, down from a season-best No. 5 a week ago. The team’s top ranking came from the NSCAA, while they also appeared at No. 14 (College Soccer News) and No. 16 (Soccer America, Top Drawer). UCLA checked in as high as No. 7, making this Saturday’s contest a battle against two of the three top-ranked teams on the west coast.

story courtesy of UCSB Media Relations