Box Score IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine got a big win to end its homestand as Mady Solow made up for an earlier disallowed goal scoring in the 79th minute for the 1-0 win over the 21st-ranked Auburn Tigers Sunday afternoon at Anteater Stadium.
A tightly-contest affair unraveled a bit in the 65th minute as Solow stepped up to take a corner kick for the 'Eaters. She floated it in towards the back post as a group of players went up for the ball including Tiger keeper Amy Howard. With everyone knocking about, the ball sailed inside the far post for a goal, but was called off citing that a UCI player had fouled Howard in her approach. Head Coach Scott Juniper voiced his displeasure and was handed a yellow card as play resumed.
Minutes before, each school had received yellow cards as the physical play had finally reached a tipping point. UCI's Haley O'Brien and Auburn's Tatiana Coleman each were booked for yellow cards in the 56th and 57th minutes, respectively.
In the 79th minute, Solow would get another chance and make it count. Rachel Wood settled the ball on the breakout negating an Auburn (2-2-0) challenge. Natalia Ledezma cut across with the ball and found a wide-open Solow just above the box. Solow took a quick dribble and nailed a strike that nicked the crossbar and went in past the outstretched save attempt of Howard.
UCI (1-3-0) held strong on defense in the final minutes. Both squads were stalwarts on defense on the afternoon. Neither team really had many offensive threats. The only other shot on goal in the match came from Zoya Farzaneh which Howard stopped off two hops in the 61st minute.
Auburn's best chance came in the 57th minute as Tori Ball's free kick was blocked aside. Auburn recovered the loose ball, and a cross found Mary Coffed just off the back post, but her header from 10 yards away sailed high.
Both teams managed just five shots each on the match with UCI keeper Jenn Randazzo not tested by any shots on target to earn her first win and shutout of the year.
For Solow, it was her first goal as an Anteater giving UCI a different goal-scorer for each of its goals this season. Ledezma's assist was her first of the season joining Farzaneh's two as the only assists for the team. Ledezma led all 'Eaters with eight in 2011.
Auburn falls to 2-2-0 on the season with losses at Pepperdine and UCI on the road trip for the 21st-ranked Tigers. Auburn is UCI's fourth ranked opponent that the Anteaters have defeat in the last three seasons in non-conference play. UCI knocked off #11 Texas A&M and #25 Portland in 2011 and also upset #17 San Diego in 2010.
UCI begins a grueling road stretch now with nine straight away from home. The Anteaters will match up with Oregon and Oregon State next weekend before competing in consecutive tournaments at Denver University and UCLA.
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