Sports Highlights: October 26-November 5

UCSB’s “Zero Waste” promotion this weekend is an appropriate theme for the Gaucho men’s soccer team, which hopes not to waste its scoring opportunities during the final two home games on its regular-season schedule. Stanford comes into Harder Stadium on Friday night (Oct. 26), and UC Davis visits Sunday afternoon in a pivotal conference match.

UCSB is 9-3-3 overall but 3-3-1 in the Big West standings. With 10 points, the Gauchos trail Davis (15), Sacramento State (13) and Cal Poly (13) in the North Division. The top two teams will qualify for the postseason conference tournament. With three Big West games remaining, UCSB needs wins, worth three points each, to make the grade.

Stanford is 3-3-1 in the Pac-12 Conference. The Cardinal and the Gauchos had similar results last weekend – Stanford losing 2-1 to Washington despite outshooting the Huskies while playing a man down in the second half; UCSB falling to Cal Poly 2-1 in overtime after giving up a tying goal in the 89th minute. Despite the setback, Coach Tim Vom Steeg said he was proud of the effort by his Gauchos. They took a season-high 24 shots, but only Nic Ryan put one past the goalkeeper. Their attack lost a key weapon early in the season when a serious ankle injury took striker Achille Campion out of action.

Spectators at the soccer games will be asked to discard their trash in receptacles for recycling or composting, leaving zero waste for landfills.

Westmont College will host a Golden State Athletic Conference women’s semifinal game on Friday (Nov. 1). The Warriors are the second seeded team and will play the higher seeded team that comes out of Tuesday’s first-round matches.

In high school sports, the girls volleyball Tournament of Champions starts Friday at Santa Barbara High. In the first round, Dos Pueblos will face Mira Costa at 12:45 p.m.; Santa Barbara will take on Archbishop Mitty at 2:30 p.m.; and San Marcos will play Clovis West at 4:15 p.m.

There will be Channel League football games at Santa Barbara and Dos Pueblos on Friday night. Bishop Diego and Nordhoff will decide the Tri-Valley League championship at La Playa Stadium on Saturday night.

SCHEDULE OF GAMES

Friday, October 26

High school girls volleyball – Tournament of Champions at Santa Barbara, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., and Dos Pueblos, 6-9 p.m.

High school football – Ventura at Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; Buena at Dos Pueblos, 7 p.m.; Carpinteria at Santa Paula, 7:30 p.m.

College men’s soccer – Stanford at UCSB, 7 p.m.; L.A. Mission at SBCC, 7 p.m.

College women’s volleyball – Cuesta at SBCC, 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 27

High school girls volleyball – Tournament of Champions at Santa Barbara and Dos Pueblos, 9 a.m. Championship match at Santa Barbara, 5:45 p.m.; Providence Hall at Cate, 3 p.m.

High school boys water polo – Esperanza at Santa Barbara, 11 a.m.

College men’s water polo – Pepperdine at UCSB, 12 p.m.

College football – SBCC at Santa Monica, 1 p.m.

High school football (8 man) – Dunn at Cate, 2 p.m.

College women’s volleyball – Cal Poly at UCSB, 7 p.m.

High school football – Nordhoff at Bishop Diego, La Playa Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 28

College men’s soccer – UC Davis at UCSB, 2 p.m.

College women’s soccer – UCSB at Cal Poly, 2 p.m.

Monday, October 29

Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon, Harry’s Plaza Café, 12 p.m.

Tuesday, October 30

College men’s soccer – Citrus at SBCC, 1 p.m.

High school boys water polo – San Marcos at Santa Barbara, 3:15 p.m.

High school girls volleyball – Santa Barbara at Dos Pueblos, 6 p.m.; Malibu at Bishop Diego, 6:30 p.m.

College women’s volleyball – The Master’s at Westmont, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, October 31

College men’s soccer – UCSB at Sacramento State, 3 p.m.

High school girls volleyball – Thacher at Cate, 4 p.m.; Dunn at Laguna Blanca, 4:30 p.m.

College women’s volleyball – L.A. Mission at SBCC, 7 p.m.

Thursday, November 1

High school boys water polo – Santa Barbara at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 p.m.

College men’s basketball – La Verne at UCSB (exhibition), 7 p.m.

College men’s soccer – Santa Monica at SBCC, 7 p.m.

Friday, November 2

College women’s soccer – GSAC semifinal at Westmont, 2 p.m.

High school boys water polo – Royal at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 p.m.

High school football – Santa Barbara at Dos Pueblos, 7 p.m.; San Marcos at Ventura, 7 p.m.; Bishop Diego at Mission Prep, 7 p.m.; Carpinteria at Oak Park, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 3

College football – SBCC at Glendale, 6 p.m.

College men’s soccer – UCSB at Cal Poly, 7 p.m.

College women’s volleyball – Biola at Westmont, 7 p.m.

Monday, November 5

Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon, Harry’s Plaza Café, 12 p.m.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Monday, October 29 – William Wiersma Golf and Disc Golf Tournament, Montecito Country Club, 1 p.m. Benefits the William Wiersma Memorial Scholarship Endowment at Westmont College. willstourney.com.

RUNNING, WALKING, CYCLING

Saturday, November 10 – Select Staffing Santa Barbara International Marathon, Dos Pueblos High School to SBCC, 7:15 a.m. Half Marathon, Page Youth Center to SBCC, 7:45 a.m. sbimarathon.com.

Saturday, November 17 – American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure bicycle rides (8, 37 and 67 miles), Leadbetter Beach, 8 a.m. diabetes.org.

Thursday, November 22 – Thanksgiving 4 Miler, Magnolia Shopping Center, 9 a.m. runsantabarbara.com.

Sunday, November 25 – Red Rock Marathon and 50-Mile Trail Run, Rancho Oso Guest Ranch, 6 a.m. allwedoisrun.com.