Gauchos Stun Zips, 3-2

James Kiffe served up a ball that said “kick me,” and Luis Silva was happy to oblige. Silva’s golden goal gave UCSB a 3-2 overtime soccer victory over Akron on Wednesday night at Harder Stadium.

The winning goal came just 33 seconds into the overtime period, much to the relief of the players who had been running nonstop for 90 minutes in the wide-open, see-saw game. “I’m happy it’s over,” Kiffe said. “I was cramping. Silva was cramping.”

Kiffe took matters into his own feet. He received a pass on the left flank, dribbled to the end line and cut inside through a thicket of Akron defenders. He doggedly stayed on the bouncing ball and sent it across the mouth of the goal, and “Sure Shot” Silva rammed it home.