UC Irvine
Cal State Northridge
Garrett Pulls 'Eaters from the Brink in Double Overtime
October 26, 2014 | Women's Soccer
IRVINE, Calif. --- The Anteaters and Matadors thrilled the crowd Sunday afternoon at Anteater Stadium playing into the 109th minute before Tatyana Garrett ended it with a golden goal for the 4-3 win.
The scoring got going early for the 'Eaters in the 11th minute. Bianca Frontino got on the end of cross and put it right on target, but a Matador defender knocked it off the goalline back into the mixer. The ball fell to Claudia Lopez who punched it to the right post and a wide-open Laura McGrail who slipped the ball home to give UCI a 1-0 lead.
Cal State Northridge (7-10-2, 4-3-0) responded in the 22nd minute following a free kick. The ball landed with Taylor Hobson in the box whose shot was stopped initially by 'Eater keeper, Jenn Randazzo, but the rebound returned to Hobson who nudged it back inside the right post to tie it, 1-1.
The half didn't end on a low note, however, starting with Tatyana Garrett's first career goal in the 43rd minute. Cami Privett's long cross found Laura McGrail in the box who would touch it by the keeper to a streaking Garrett whose finish gave UC Irvine (6-8-3, 2-3-1) the 2-1 lead.
It was short-lived, however, as Kiley Norkus would punt a ball from 40 yards out over Randazzo to tie the match up 45 seconds later at 2-2.
The second half began with a pair of rapid-fire chances for the Matadors before breaking through in the 58th minute. Camille Watson took advantage of Randazzo again after she punched a ball out of the box right to Watson, and her loft gave CSUN the 3-2 lead.
The Anteater pressure ramped up knowing they would need a win to stay in postseason contention, and Laura McGrail was able to deliver again in the 76th minute.
Clarissa Robles executed a perfect chip over the wall from 35 yards out on a free kick and hit McGrail in stride in the box who headed home the equalizer making it 3-3.
UCI had another pair of chances in the closing minutes of regulation, but Matador keeper Jovani McCaskill stood tall denying four shots to extend the match into overtime.
The match would rage on with one shot in the first 18 minutes until the 'Eaters would connect with 105 seconds to go in the match. Alex Karlowitsch took control of the ball and tracked across the offensive third before passing back to Robles. She chipped another cross into the box finding Garrett on the left side of the box to put home the game-winner.
Garrett earned the brace for her first goals and points of her career. McGrail joined her with goal nos. 20 and 21 making her the 11th Anteater in program history to reach 20 career goals. She stands atop the squad with eight goals and 19 points on the season. She also added an assist, her third on the year.
Robles continued her assault on the assist category now helping on eight goals this season, just the 10th time in program history an 'Eater has reached eight in a season. Additional assists were provided by Cami Privett, her fourth, Alex Karlowitsch, her third, and Claudia Lopez getting her first career Anteater points.
Randazzo finished with seven saves, and climbs to third in Anteater history with 29 career wins. Her counterpart, McCaskill, stopped six shots, and got some help from her defense with a pair of saves off the goalline.
The win was critical to the Anteaters' playoff hopes as they now stand sixth in the conference with seven points.
UC Irvine's final charge to the postseason continues Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7:00 p.m. as it hosts Hawaii in the final home match of 2014.
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