“Ledoux Keys comeback as Gauchos win Big West opener”

SANTA BARBARA, California. — Alexis Ledoux scored two goals in two minutes on Wednesday night, turning a surprising deficit into a well-earned lead for the No. 22 UC Santa Barbara men's soccer team. The Gauchos' French phenom scored the game-winning and game-winning goals just 65 seconds apart Zac Siebenlist He later scored his first career goal to secure a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over UC San Diego.

FROM HEAD COACH TIM VOM STEEG

“The second half was the result of a lot of work in the first half and it is a win that we absolutely have to have, but I also think it is a credit to the group,” Vom Steeg said. “We didn’t panic at half-time, we stuck to the game plan and the boys were rewarded for that.”

“Look, you saw how we finished the last 15 minutes of that half. We should have scored in those 43 minutes.”^approx In the minute the ball was deflected on the way into the goal, the goalkeeper stuck out his right hand and saved it, we had a few chances right at the end, I mean we knocked. The question in the dressing room was: “It was unfortunate that we had to stop for 15 minutes. So we had to find a way to get back to what we were doing.” We didn't have to change anything, we just had to increase our energy and our effort. It was one of those games where we got everything we were looking for. We just messed up the first goal, didn't get it and it put us in the box a little bit.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Gauchos were actually unlucky as they conceded the first goal of the game. It didn't just happen through a counterattack against the run of play, it just happened through a jump. Andrew Kamienski had shot away a pass from a Triton attacker, but another was immediately there and directed the pass into the net in the sixth minute of the game.

Still, Santa Barbara had more possession in the first 15 minutes and their momentum only increased as the first half progressed. Siebenlist dropped the ball after a corner in the 18's^Th minute, but shortly afterwards shot past the goal Kaden Standish was then thwarted by an inch-perfect tackle from a UC San Diego defender Manu Duahs An equally perfect pass put Standish on goal.

With the Tritons retreating into their low block with almost all 11 players in their defensive third of the field, the Gauchos continued to strike and look for opportunities as the clock ticked down to the 30th minute, although the only shot on goal was a long shot was -Area effort from Peleg Brownwhich was comfortably saved by the Triton goalkeeper.

Nemo Philip has woven some magic into the 36^Th Minute to break through the defense, he danced his way past five or six defenders in the penalty area before firing a left-footed shot that was only an inch or two from the wrong side of the near post. Next it was time Nicolas Willumsens Frustrated, another brilliant slide tackle prevented the big Dane from firing a shot. Shortly afterwards, in the 40th^Th In the minute, Ledoux saw his long-range shot bounce just past a UC San Diego defender. And in the 44th^Th In the minute, Philipp failed with a great save from the Triton keeper. Philipp's low, aimed shot bounced off the foot of a defender, and only UC San Diego goalkeeper Nolan Premack's right hand prevented it from reaching the back of the net.

After the Gauchos spent much of the first half knocking on the door, Ledoux finally kicked it down just five minutes into the second half. His first goal was a beautiful team goal initiated by Brown. The left-back played a ball from the midfield strip over the Triton defensive line, onto which Philipp was able to run. The German then pulled it back Ramses Martinez He ran into the penalty area and Martinez played a pass to Willumsen just above the penalty spot. With his back to the goal, Willumsen played the ball back to Ledoux, beat the Frenchman perfectly and shot it past the far post from 18 meters away.

A little over a minute later, it was Willumsen and Ledoux who reunited, although this was less a work of art and more of a robbery. Ledoux was dispossessed after Philipp played it on goal, but the defender's defensive shot bounced off Willumsen's shin and straight back to Ledoux, who finished into the bottom left corner.

The Gauchos thought they had scored their third goal just eight minutes after Ledoux's second in the 59th minute^Th minute when Eddie Villeda put the ball into the net, but it was called back for offside.

With the Tritons coming out of their low block to salvage a result, the Gauchos had more freedom in the attacking half but also had more to defend, and Kamienski made a great save in the 72nd minute^nd minute when he sent a shot wide of the goal after a scramble in the penalty area.

Siebenlist then provided the insurance score in the 77th^Th Minute. The newcomer was in the right place at the right time to make money afterwards Filip Basilis The long-range shot was blocked. The deflected ball landed at Siebenlist's feet and he fired it into the top right corner, giving him his first (official) score in the Blue and Gold. He almost scored his second goal right after that when Basili made a pass that went through Siebenlist on a 50-yard run with no one but the goalie between him and the net. Unfortunately, the goalkeeper denied the newcomer his double.

At the other end of the field, the Gauchos had to make another big defensive play to hold on to the score, and Calle Mollerberg was the one who provided it. After a Triton attacker got around the goalkeeper David Mitzner During a breakaway, Möllerberg managed to push his way in front of the otherwise open goal and block the shot.

FROM THE STUDENT ATHLETES
Calle on Wednesday night's game and his confidence: I would say that I already have a pretty high level of confidence from my teammates, they give me a lot of appreciation, help and support. It was a tough game, a good game and of course a lot of good moments, but also some bad ones, but we just have to live with it and get better.”

Alexis on his goal performance and his role as the focal point of the team: Well, I was lucky enough to get some good recordings at home and of course the guys know that too. So if they keep feeding me, I will try to keep performing. It’s working at the moment, (I) just have to keep going.”

BY THE NUMBERS

• With Wednesday night's win, the Gauchos extend their record to a perfect 13-0-0 under coach Tim Vom Steeg entering their first conference game of the year at Harder Stadium, having scored 33 goals in those 13 wins while only seven were allowed.
• With his double pack on Wednesday Alexis Ledoux brings his conference-leading goal total to nine on the year. He scored two goals in three of Santa Barbara's five home games so far.
• Zac Siebenlist scored his first official goal on Wednesday night; He scored two goals in the Gauchos' exhibition match against Westmont, which was his first-ever appearance in the Blue and Gold.

NEXT

UC Santa Barbara will look to carry the momentum of this win into its nationally televised matchup against Cal Poly on Sunday afternoon at Harder Stadium. The second leg of the Blue-Green rivalry kicks off at 4 p.m. on Sunday. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU. The Gauchos want to continue the trend of the Blue-Green rivalry games being the most-attended game in college football each year; Santa Barbara needs 10,000 spectators this season to secure the title.