UCLA women beat Gauchos

Santa Barbara, Calif. - Forward Sydney Leroux had a pair of goals, and defender Jenna Belcher added another, as the third-ranked UCLA women's soccer team posted a 3-1 victory over UC Santa Barbara at Harder Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Bruins, winners of eight straight, up their record to 8-1-1 on the season. The Gauchos fall to 3-6-1 overall.

 
Leroux scored her ninth goal of the season in just the fifth minute of Sunday's match, as she got loose on a breakaway set up by a through ball from Kristina Larsen.

 
UCSB, however, would actually tie the match just before halftime when Erin Ortega headed in a cross from Alissa Sanchez at the 42:54 mark.

 
Redshirt junior Jenna Belcher then put the Bruins ahead 2-1 in the 50th minute, scoring her first career goal off of a corner kick sent in from junior Lauren Barnes.

 
Leroux capped the Bruins' scoring in the 63rd minute, as she beat a pair of Gaucho defenders to eventually finish off a one-on-one situation with UCSB goalkeeper Ali Cutler.  Leroux continues to lead the Bruins in scoring this year with 21 points (10g, 1a).

 
The Bruins outshot the Gauchos, 12-7 on the day. Chante Sandiford made one save in 90 minutes of action, improving to 8-0-1 on the year.

 
UCLA rounds out the non-conference portion of its schedule next Friday, facing Pepperdine at 3:00 p.m. in Malibu.