STOCKTON — As a searing hot September day melted into a muggy evening, a grueling and physical struggle developed between Pacific men’s soccer and its former Big West Conference foe UC Santa Barbara.
The two sides traded collisions and occasionally elbows in vying for 50-50 balls throughout the first half — leading to 17 combined fouls (though just two yellow cards) in the opening 45 minutes. Pacific and UC Santa Barbara also created several legitimate chances to score, especially in the second half, as the mood calmed and the temperature dropped.
The difference was, UC Santa Barbara capitalized on those golden moments.