MORGANTOWN, W.V. --- No. 9 UC Irvine got a big win to start off its east-coast road trip striking early against the Mountaineers of West Virginia for the 3-2 win Thursday night.
The match started off very inauspiciously with West Virginia (3-2-0) getting on the board first thanks to a brilliant diving header from Andy Bevin the 17th minute.
The goal marked the first goal surrendered before the half this season for UCI as well as the first deficit it has encountered. Like its other goals allowed this season, UC Irvine (4-0-0) responded without wasting any time knotting the match back up in the 24th minute from Eduardo Calzada.
After being left out of the lineup in the team's last match, he returned loudly not only extending his streak of goals in three consecutive matches, but he lashed out for a second goal to give the 'Eaters the lead in the 36th minute.
UCI rode the goal-scoring wave adding a third goal two minutes later thanks to a Dennis Martinez header. The 'Eaters kept the score 3-1 into the half while holding the advantage in shots, 10-4, and shots on target, 7-2.
WVU wouldn't go quietly striking back in the 56th minute from Jamie Merriam. It even went with a keeper change swapping Brent Arnold for Lee Johnston, who halted the Anteater attack in the second half, however, the three goals would hold up giving UCI a great result to begin its road trip.
Calzada continues to grow as a goalscorer with his first two-goal match as an Anteater while continuing to extended the UCI point lead with nine on the season.
Thomas Janjigian was an important figure in the match providing two assists from corner kicks. Gerardo Gonzalez added his second assist of the season.
Dennis Martinez has netted a pair of goals on the year, both of which being game-winners.
Michael Breslin stopped one shot in the match as his defensive line only allowed three of West Virginia's 10 shots to be directed on target.
The ninth-ranked team in the nation can now focus its attention on No. 6 Georgetown as it travels to Washington, D.C. for a 9:00 a.m. match on Sunday, Sept. 14.
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