IRVINE, Calif. --- An action-packed match was without a goal until the fourth minute of overtime as freshman Cameron Iwasa (Sacramento / Jesuit HS) scored his first career goal to lift UC Irvine over Cal State Fullerton, 1-0, at Anteater Stadium Saturday night.
The matchup was played pretty evenly throughout. Both schools would trade shots, saves, fouls, and corner kicks. Each team had six shots going into the half with UCI's (13-4-0, 5-2-0) first four coming on goal.
Miguel Ibarra (Lancaster / Taft College) had two of them including one from point blank that was batted back out by Titan keeper, Trevor Whiddon.
Syd Tom (Wahiawa, Hawaii / Leilehua HS) deflected a header just wide near the end of the half.
For CSUF (7-5-3, 1-4-1), Kevin Venegas and Mark Vasquez powered a couple on Anteater keeper, Andrew Fontein (Las Vegas, Nev. / Sierra Vista HS) as he went into the half with a pair of saves.
The schools returned in the second half trading shots once again. Vasquez continued to pepper the goal leading all players with five shots. He nearly hooked up with Venegas as he crossed one right to Vazquez in the box who pushed it past the far post.
UCI had a few chances, but only one shot on goal in the half. Everett Pitts (Chino Hills / Ayala HS) pushed a header just wide, and Christopher Santana (Bishop / Bishop Union HS) had the best chance as he one-timed a blast off the top right corner of the goal.
The 'Eaters' only shot on goal was from a deflected shot by Iwasa, but he would get another shot.
Early in overtime, the schools traded possessions. Marco Franco (Chino Hills / Chino Hills HS) found a seam and dribbled upfield right to the box. He connected on a short pass with Ibarra coming down the outside. Ibarra approached the end line and crossed to Iwasa on the doorstep who would put it away, top-center, for the decisive strike in the 94th minute.
The goal for Iwasa was his first of the season and as an Anteater, and now gives him three points on the year.
Ibarra ties for the team lead with his seventh assist and 19th point. For Franco, he earned his fifth assist.
Fontein saved five shots giving him 63 on the year. The win raised his UCI career-record total to 47. His sixth shutout of the season gives him 26 all-time, also a UCI record.
Another UCI mark reached was by Jimmy Turner (Mission Viejo / Mission Viejo HS) who played in his 76th match, the fifth-most in Anteater history.
UCI is now tied for first in the Big West with a 5-2-0 record, 13-4-0 overall. Their next match is Wed. Oct. 26 at 7:00 p.m. as they travel to Cal State Northridge.
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