'Eater Headers Hoist Big West South Crown
November 09, 2013 | Men's Soccer
IRVINE, Calif. --- The entire 2013 season to this point had seen the Anteaters fail to score on a corner kick, but Thomas Janjigian's pair of brilliant feeds found 'Eater heads in the box to earn the 2-1 victory over No. 20 CSUN and the Big West South division title Saturday night at Anteater Stadium.
The Matadors (13-5-1, 5-4-1) actually took the early lead after senior Marco Franco was tripped up in his own third by Edwin Rivas who would collect the loose ball, drive, and score inside the far right post to give the Matadors a much needed leg up in the 12th minute.
CSUN, knowing that they needed a two-goal advantage to earn the south crown, kept on the attack. Goal-scoring fiend Sagi Lev-Ari lurked around the goal and even got a header that sailed inches over the goal looking for the second strike.
It was 24th-ranked UC Irvine (12-4-3, 7-2-1) that would respond off the corner kick in the 30th minute. Janjigian hit a low, curling liner towards the goal that Cameron Iwasa would put a head on and bounce it off the goalline and in for the equalizer.
The 'Eaters would serve up another crushing blow in the 42nd minute as a carbon-copy of the first goal presented itself. Janjigian's corner mirrored his first, but sailed a tad long of the box to find Bryan Breslin whose header drifted inside the left post to put UCI up, 2-1, just before the half.
The second half brought a defensive struggle full of strategy and positioning.
UCI had some early chances including Iwasa's third shot on goal of the night adding to his goal and marvelous strike early in the first half that whipped in on CSUN keeper Adam Hobbs and just punched wide.
CSUN brought the pressure late. David Turcios pestered keeper Michael Breslin with two shots on goal in the final five minutes, but Breslin was up to the task and secured the 2-1 victory with three shots in total.
The win secured UCI's fourth Big West regular season title and first of the newly-formed Big West South division. The 'Eaters also locked up the No. 1 seed in the Big West Tournament and earn a bye to the semifinal that will be played at Anteater Stadium, Fri. Nov. 15, against the winner of the UC Riverside-UC Davis first-round match which will be played Tues. Nov. 12.
Iwasa's goal was his sixth on the season along with points 15 and 16. Breslin's goal was his first since his freshman year in 2011 and first career game-winner.
Janjigian recorded a pair of assists giving him a total of three on the year.
Michael Breslin's three saves wrapped up his 12th win of the year and a total of 51 saves.
As stated, UCI next plays Friday, Nov. 15th at 7:00 p.m. at Anteater Stadium which will also be the host of the Big West final should the Anteaters continue on after the semifinal. The other semifinal will be played at UC Santa Barbara on the same night as they will await the CSUN-Cal Poly winner.
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