'Eaters Headed Out
November 20, 2011 | Men's Soccer
IRVINE, Calif. --- The bounces just didn't seem to go the Anteaters' way as the Gaels of Saint Mary's headed home a bounding ball in the 103rd minute of double overtime for the 2-1 win Sunday night at Anteater Stadium.
The match began as scattered showers, which would cause havoc throughout the match, soaked the field. Saint Mary's (10-6-5, 7-3-2) was on the charge early with a pair of shots, one saved by senior 'Eater keeper, Andrew Fontein (Las Vegas, Nev. / Sierra Vista HS). UCI dumped in a pair of chances as Jake Marcon (Dana Point / Dana Hills HS) fired a free ball on net.
UC Irvine (16-6-1, 6-3-1) got nicked up a little in the first half as a couple key offensive threats sat out most of the remainder of the half.
The half finished knotted at 0-0 with no real statistical advantage for either side.
The Gaels controlled the beginning of the second half, and eventually took the lead. Jose Cabeza served a corner kick into the box. UCI cleared it right to Riley Hanley who would put it into the net just inside the right post for the 1-0 lead in the 58th minute.
The Anteaters upped the attack throughout the rest of the second half putting in an arsenal of forwards in place of their defense. The 'Eaters came close a couple times including a shot from outside the box by Marco Franco (Chino Hills / Chino Hills HS) that careened off the corner of the goal frame. The rebound fell to Christian Hernandez (Palmdale / Taft College) who would put it on net, but Gael keeper, Doug Herrick, swatted it wide.
The ensuing corner kick from Hernandez stuck right in the box, and after a scrum, it found Miguel Ibarra (Lancaster / Taft College) who would force it home before slipping to tie the match at 1-1 in the 84th minute.
The squads played out the remainder of regulation conservatively as they headed to overtime.
The first overtime was full of long shots flying high and wide as the match remained tied going into double overtime.
Saint Mary's made a great run to open the second overtime as Justin Howard found himself all alone 10 yards out, but Fontein came up with a huge save as he punched it over top of the net.
The ensuing corner would get cleared out as the Gaels recovered it and sent it high into the box. The ball was headed back-and-forth about five or six times in the box before Howard got his redemption and found the open part of the goal off a header sealing the Gaels' victory, 2-1, in the 103rd minute.
Fontein played magnificently saving four shots totaling 84 on the season to finish up a brilliant career that included 50 wins and 29 shutouts in 73 starts, fourth-best amongst all Anteaters.
Ibarra's goal was his ninth on the season to lead the team along with 26 points. The 26 points tie him for the fifth-best mark in single-season history with 'Eater legends Brad Evans, P.J. Polowski, and Ken Gunn.
Jimmy Turner (Mission Viejo / Mission Viejo HS) played outstanding, as well, in his 81st match at UCI as he stands alone in fourth all-time.
The 'Eaters' finished at 16-6-1; the most wins in a season for the program.
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