Box Score IRVINE, Calif. --- UCI and UCSB rekindled its fierce rivalry Sunday afternoon at Anteater Stadium, and the shorthanded Gauchos found a way to steal a win in the 109th minute and stay perfect in Big West play.
Kevin Garcia-Lopez went coast-to-coast in the 109th minute beating an 'Eater defender and sliding a shot between Anteater keeper Michael Breslin and the right post to put the nail in the coffin for the Gauchos.
UCSB (9-4-0, 4-0-0) was down to 10 men throughout the second half the match after two quick yellow cards were issued to Marshall Cazares in the 53rd minute.
UC Irvine (7-4-2, 2-2-0) was already sitting on a 1-0 lead after a goal in the 31st minute. A slowly-developing Anteater counterattack found Mitchell Alvarez who made a nice pass up to Enrique Cardenas. He weaved his way around the defense and nudged a pass forward to Lester Hayes III who finished into the right side of the net for the early lead.
The squads combined for just three shots in the first half with the Gauchos held to none.
UCSB came out firing early in the second half to quickly even the shot count before the red card was issued, and a quick counter led by Drew Murphy found Reed McKenna who sliced a shot off a bounce that cut past Breslin and inside the left post to tie it up in the 62nd minute.
UCSB even had a chance to put it away in the 74th minute as a foul in the box gave McKenna a chance to silence Anteater Stadium from the penalty spot. Michael Breslin had other ideas coming up huge with a sprawling save to his right to get a hand on it and catch it against the goal post and keep the 1-1 tie intact.
UCI had countless scoring opportunities with the man-advantage that went wanting. Cameron Iwasa had a left-footed shot sail high in the first overtime period. Even before then, Thomas Janjigian fired from inside the box, but caught too much turf and lifted a shot just over the bar. Cardenas did the same in the final 15 seconds just forcing a shot high to leave the 1,136 in attendance in a daze.
For the Anteaters, they remain at 2-2 in Big West play right in the thick of the standings. The loss marked its first in overtime in 2013 after the previous two ended in draws.
Breslin had a masterful performance go for naught with three critical saves. Hayes III recorded his fourth goal on the season. Mitchell Alvarez moves into a tie for second with his third assist while Enrique Cardenas lengthens his team lead with five.
UCI heads back on the road for one match next week, a Saturday night matchup at Cal State Fullerton beginning at 7:00 p.m. as conference action ramps up with the next six matches against South division opponents.
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