The Hawaii soccer team kept pace atop the Big West Conference standings by earning a valuable point on the road with a scoreless draw at UC Santa Barbara on Thursday night.

The Rainbow Wahine turned to senior goalkeeper Lauren Marquez, the reigning BWC Defensive Player of the Week, to earn the result at Theodore Harder Stadium and remain unbeaten in conference play (4-2-1, 1-0-1 BWC).

Marquez made five saves, including an airborne one in the final minute, for the first consecutive shutouts of her career after she held the line in a 1-0 home win over UC Davis last week.

UH is tied with Long Beach State with four points to lead the conference through two matches. Wins are worth three points and draws one.

UH was outshot 12-7 by UCSB (1-6-4, 0-1-1), but the Wahine had their chances, especially late. Freshman Amber Gilbert had a deflected shot ricochet off the top right post, setting up a corner kick. UH sophomore defender Jacey Jicha gathered the ball at the back post and had a great opportunity at the game-winner in the 88th minute, only to see it clear the crossbar.

Midfielder Eliza Ammendolia had two shots on frame in the first half saved by Gauchos goalkeeper Evann Smith.

UH concludes its road trip to the central California coast at Cal Poly (4-5, 1-0) at 9 a.m. Sunday. The Mustangs beat UCSB 4-0 last week.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.