Second Half Surge Provides 2-0 Win for No. 11 Anteaters
October 11, 2014 | Men's Soccer
IRVINE, Calif. --- The No. 11 Anteaters found their touch in the final 45 minutes scoring twice to snag a 2-0 victory over Sacramento State Saturday night in Anteater Stadium.
UCI (10-1-2, 2-1-1) put up a few chances early with deflected balls skipping wide and a hearty shot on target by Cameron Iwasa, but were all for naught in the first half.
Sac State (4-7-2, 2-2-0) earned its shots as well including a golden chance by Andres Garcia following an 'Eater giveaway in their own zone, but Michael Breslin was in position and snuffed out the kick as the squads entered the half scoreless.
UC Irvine upped the tempo in the second half led by the motor of Michael Sperber and the tricky tandem of Mario Ortiz and Gerardo Gonzalez who would team up to break the silence.
Mitchell Alvarez's pass down the wing was run down by Gonzalez who cut into the box and slotted a pass to Ortiz who knocked it in to take the 1-0 lead in the 56th minute.
The Anteaters used the momentum to build on its lead in the 64th minute. Iwasa found an opening and delivered a strike to Noah Gaines whose line-drive cross found Lester Hayes III who beat his defender to the ball and tipped it home to make it 2-0, UCI.
UC Irvine continued to hold possession subduing any of the Hornets' threats, and would run the clock down toward its 10th victory of the season.
Ortiz earned the game-winner, his first on the year. Other firsts were assists for Gaines and Alvarez along with the goal for Hayes III. Iwasa scored his fifth assist which leads the team while Gonzalez assisted on his third goal of the season.
UCI cracked 17 of the match's 23 shots including an 11-3 edge in the second half. It also recorded all eight corner kicks on the match.
Keeper Michael Breslin earned his second straight shutout and fourth of the season, which have all come in Anteater Stadium, as he stopped three shots. Opposing keeper Michael Del Curto stopped four shots.
The Anteaters continue to hold a slight edge in the Big West South with seven points going 2-1-1 against North opponents. They begin play against its South counterparts on Saturday, Oct. 18, as it entertains Cal State Fullerton at Anteater Stadium for a 7:00 p.m. start.
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