IRVINE, Calif. --- Senior Lexi Kopf's goal in the 80th minute lifted 14th-ranked UC Irvine past Hawai'i, 2-1, in UCI's home opener at Anteater Stadium Friday night.
Kopf took a cross from sophomore Natalia Ledezma and hit a shot that deflected off Rainbow Wahine keeper Kanani Taaca into the goal at the 79:23 mark. The score was Kopf's third goal of the season, all game-winners.
In defeating future Big West Conference member Hawai'i, the Anteaters (5-0) opened a season with five consecutive wins for the first time since 1998.
Tiana Fujimoto opened the scoring for Hawai'i (0-4), finding the top corner off a header in the box in the 43rd minute to give the Rainbow Wahine a 1-0 lead at halftime.
UCI evened the score at 1-1 in the 53rd minute as Ledezma took a long pass from Judy Christopher and beat Taaca 1-on1 for the equalizer. It was Ledezma's fourth goal of the season.
The Anteaters outshot the Rainbow Wahine, 18-7, including 10-4 in the second half. UCI had 10 shots on-goal in the contest to three for Hawai'i.
Freshman keeper Jennifer Randazzo had two saves for the Anteaters and Taaca recorded eight stops for the Rainbow Wahine.
Coach Scott Juniper's UCI squad returns to action next Friday (Sept. 9), facing 16th-ranked Santa Clara at 5:00 p.m. in the Stanford-Nike Invitational. The Anteaters will face the host Cardinal Sunday, Sept. 11, at 1:00 p.m.
Hawai'i 1 – 0 --- 1
UC Irvine 0 – 2 --- 2
UH: Tiana Fujimoto, 42:17 (Amber Fuller)
UCI: Natalia Ledezma, 52:57 (Judy Christopher)
Lexi Kopf, 79:23 (Natalia Ledezma, Cami Privett)
Saves: Kanani Taaca (UH) 8; Jennifer Randazzo (UCI) 2.
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