Week in Sports

TOP SPORTING EVENTS: NOVEMBER 11-22

UCSB’s “Soccer Heaven” was “Soccer Purgatory” for 72 minutes Wednesday night (Nov. 10), as the Gauchos trailed Cal Poly 1-0 with time running out in their Big West Tournament semifinal match. “I could see my season and my life flash before my eyes,” said Machael David, a Gaucho standout who had to sweat out the game on the bench.

David Opoku came to the rescue. UCSB’s freshman forward took a pass from Michael Tetteh, split two defenders, dribbled around charging Cal Poly goalkeeper Patrick McLain, and planted the ball in the net. Opoku’s sixth goal of the year sent the game into overtime, and UCSB won 2-1 on Nic Ryan’s golden goal in the eighth minute of the extra period.

Not only did the Gauchos avoid a defeat that would have put their NCAA playoff hopes in grave jeopardy, but now they find themselves holding the cards to earn an automatic berth. They will host the Big West championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday against Cal State Fullerton, which stunned top-seeded UC Irvine 2-1 in the other semifinal.