Manic Minute Leads to 2-2 Tie
October 19, 2013 | Men's Soccer
FULLERTON, Calif. --- UCI's comeback capabilities were tested Saturday night at Titan Stadium as three goals in 53 seconds in the last six minutes of regulation woke up both sides late.
As the 85th minute approached, the Anteater attack marched on and a ball bounded into the box. Enrique Cardenas put a foot on it towards goal and the befuddled Titan defense let it slip through on in to tie the match, 1-1, in the waning moments of the 84th minute.
CSUF (6-6-1, 3-1-1) answered just nine seconds later as Marc Fenelus regained the lead for the Titans at the 85-minute mark.
The Anteaters regrouped and a bouncing cross into the box found Dennis Martinez whose swinging leg would lead the ball on, off the left post, and in to tie it back up in the 86th minute.
The overtime periods saw plenty of action. Each squad had three shots in the first period. The biggest opportunity never even saw a shot as Titan keeper Bryan Escalante and his defense came together at the top of the box and mishandled the ball. A pair of Anteater forwards converged, but CSUF managed to keep it and dribble out of trouble.
Both squads nearly put the match away in the second overtime as Lester Hayes III put a head on one that sailed inches high of the goal and thus each team walked away with a single point in a 2-2 tie.
Michael Breslin matched his season high with eight saves on the night.
Cardenas and Cameron Iwasa each had six shots on the evening, four on goal for Cardenas including a goal, his sixth of the season to lead the team. Martinez came away with his second of 2013.
The Anteaters stand at 7-4-3 on the year and 2-2-1 in conference play, still three points behind the Titans and Matadors atop the division. They return to Anteater Stadium next week with a home match on Wednesday against UC Riverside at 7:00 p.m. UCI will then travel to Cal State Northridge for a 7:00 p.m. match in Northridge.
_____________________________________________________________
For UC Irvine Athletics ticket information, please call (949) 824-5000or e-mail athletics.tickets@uci.edu. For more information click here.
For information on how you can help support UC Irvine Athletics, please call (949) 824-6933or e-mail aaf@uci.edu. For additional information, click here.
