IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine vanquished a halftime deficit to beat Cal State Fullerton, 2-1, at Titan Stadium Friday night.
The Anteaters (10-3-2, 3-1-1) couldn't get the offense going in the first half managing just two shots and none on goal.
Cal State Fullerton (6-7-2, 1-3-0) held the ball for most of the first half producing a few scoring chances. They were able to break the scoreless tie in the 27th minute. A long cross on a corner kick was punched away by 'Eater keeper Jennifer Randazzo (San Jose / Presentation HS) out of the box. The ball found Janali West who floated a shot on goal. Randazzo got a hand on it, but couldn't keep it out as it grazed the post and fell in.
CSUF kept attacking including consecutive shots that Randazzo punched away as the defense kept the score close at the half, 1-0.
UCI started to get it going in the second half. Natalia Ledezma (La Mirada / UCLA) fired a corner kick in that Sarah Devine (San Diego / Poway HS) knocked down with a header. The ball fell to Cami Privett (Bakersfield / Frontier HS) who forced it past a Titan defender for the tying strike in minute 60.
UCI continued the attack as nine of their 11 shots came in the second half. The 'Eaters dribbled the ball around the far corner as Privett made it past a defender and found Ledezma at the top of the box. Ledezma crushed the ball on net as it careened off the crossbar, down onto the goal line and back up into the top of the net to give UCI the lead with 15 minutes to go.
CSUF remained alert and had a few great chances in the final minutes. Randazzo tipped one shot wide with a diving effort. Another cross she dove and punched it out, the rebound was put on net and she stopped it, but the ball just barely came free to a defender right on the doorstep. She couldn't get any air under it as Randazzo kept the Titans out of the net.
Time ran down as CSUF had one more rush in the final 30 seconds. A Titan attacker fired one from inside the box that got past Randazzo, but was knocked out by an 'Eater defender standing on the goal line. The rebound found another Titan who would lift it just high of the goal as the final seconds ran down to give UCI the 2-1 victory.
Privett and Ledezma each had three-point games. Privett's goal was her fifth of the season and second consecutive game with a goal.
Ledezma scored her seventh on the year and now has two game-winners. Her three points give her 19 on the season to lead the Anteaters.
Devine's assist was her first and first point of 2011.
Randazzo finished with four saves to get her 10th win of the year. She becomes the third freshman to win 10 in a season.
UCI's win is its fifth straight. They are now 3-0-1 in matches when trailing at halftime.
All of this sets up for a huge Black-and-Blue rivalry match at Anteater Stadium Sunday night against Long Beach State. The 'Eaters and 49ers battle at 6:00 p.m. for conference supremacy.
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