Phillips‘ Goal, Willmering‘s Clean Sheet Lift gauchos over Spartans
SAN JOSE, calif. - A 70th-minute header from Haley Phillips, coupled with a strong defensive performance and clean sheet from goalkeeper Brooke Willmering, propelled the UC Santa Barbara women’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over San Jose State on Sunday afternoon. the win marks the Gauchos‘ fourth consecutive match without a loss and builds momentum during their road trip.
The result extends a positive trend for UCSB, coming off a recent win on Thursday night. This victory is significant as the Gauchos continue a challenging stretch of away games, aiming to maintain their strong form before returning home and entering conference play. The team will next travel to the Midwest to face North Dakota and North Dakota state.The gauchos and Spartans battled through a scoreless first half, with UCSB holding a slight 6-2 advantage in shots, including three on target. Possession was relatively even, with much of the play concentrated in the midfield.
The decisive moment arrived in the second half. Ava Dermott initiated the play with possession in the midfield, finding Dakota Watterson on the right flank. Watterson delivered a cross into the box, were Phillips made a well-timed run and headed the ball past the San Jose State keeper.
“We got the result but it was a bit of a rough one today,” said Head Coach Paul Stumpf. “Our build and relentless defense were good, but I felt like we weren’t great in the attacking third. Dakota Watterson’s serve and Haley Phillips’ finish were class.”
UC Santa Barbara’s defense, anchored by Willmering’s clean sheet, successfully preserved the lead for the remainder of the match.
The Gauchos will continue their road trip next week, facing North Dakota on Thursday, Sept. 4, and North Dakota State on Sunday, Sept. 7. both matches will be streamed on the Summit League Network.
