Anteaters Turn Back UC Riverside, 2-0
October 23, 2013 | Men's Soccer
IRVINE, Calif. --- UCI jumped back into the mix in the Big West South with a 2-0 shutout win over UC Riverside Wednesday night at Anteater Stadium.
The 'Eaters struck early as Mitchell Alvarez jumped on a giveaway in the box and put away the opening goal inside the right post in the sixth minute to make it 1-0.
That stood as the lone shot through a majority of the half until a small flurry came late, but the score stood at 1-0 going into the half.
The second half saw a spike in physicality with 10 fouls aside and eight cards. One of which was a red card against Highlander junior Hector Romo in the 72nd minute.
The diminished UC Riverside (6-6-3, 1-4-1) continued to drive towards the net. Ruben Valencia pounded a shot off a turnover from the left of the net, but it glanced just wide. Minutes earlier, Aaron Long directed a header off a corner kick on net, but Michael Breslin stood tall for his lone save of the match.
UCI (8-4-3, 3-2-1) gained steam down the stretch as Christopher Santana flashed down the left wing and was tackled on his way to the goal drawing a foul. Santana stepped up to the penalty spot and snuck a shot inside the left post to extend the lead to 2-0 in the 86th minute and give the Anteaters a big three points.
Alvarez's early strike proved to be the game-winner, the first of his career. He and Santana each earned their second goal of the season.
Michael Breslin secured his Big West-leading sixth shutout of the year upping his and the team's record to 8-4-3 overall. His counterpart, KC John, stopped four shots in the defeat, many of which he had to sprawl and dive for.
The Anteaters will finish up the first round of south division play with a trip to fifth-ranked Cal State Northridge for a 7:00 p.m. start Saturday night.
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