The Cal Poly women’s soccer team was defeated by UC Santa Barbara 2-1 on Sunday night.
It was the last game of the regular season for the Mustangs, who were undefeated in the Big West Conference until Sundays’ game.
The Gauchos improved to 7-6-5 overall this season while the Mustangs fell to 9-6-3.
Both teams came ready for a battle – possession stayed in the middle of the field for most of the first half.
UC Santa Barbara gained the upper hand when forward Ali Kueny won the ball in the Mustang defensive third of the field and sent a through pass to teammate Genelle Ives.
With 15 minutes, 44 seconds remaining in the half, Ives beat her defender and drove a shot at the back of the net. Mustang goalkeeper Ali Tramel got a hand on the high-driven ball, but it wasn’t enough to send it over the crossbar.
The Mustangs came back after halftime, posting seven of their 11 total shots in the second period.
Cal Poly senior forward Kelsey Carroll leveled the score 1-1 at 52:08 when she beat two defenders and took a shot from 20 yards out. The ball bounced off the bottom of the crossbar and on the goal line, but with no whistle from the official, Carroll followed her own shot into the goal.
UC Santa Barbara goalkeeper Katie Wright’s three diving saves kept the Gauchos in the match.