RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Men's soccer bounced back from its last match to hang a 5-1 win over UC Riverside Wednesday night.
Seniors Eduardo Calzada and Jaime Phillips were the catalysts having a hand in four of the five goals together including the game-winner by Calzada in the 33rd minute, and together they put away the fifth and final goal in the 67th minute.
UC Irvine (4-9-3, 2-4-1) kicked the scoring off in the 12th minute as Ivan Canales knocked in his fifth goal of the year to briefly take the team lead.
Calzada joined him on top with an obscure goal in the 33rd minute blocking a defender's clearance into the goal to extend the lead to 2-0 and into the half.
UC Riverside (5-10-1, 1-6-0) clawed back in slotting home a penalty kick in the 52nd minute to trail 2-1.
The 'Eaters stretched the lead back to two goals as freshman Jorge Lara slipped home his first career goal from the center of the box to make it 3-1 in the 55th minute.
UCI put the match out of reach with goals in the 65th and 67th minutes to run the final result to 5-1 for its second conference win. It now sits with seven points, four clear of UCR for third place in the table. It also remains in the hunt for CSUF, atop the table with 13 points, and CSUN, in second with 10.
"That was an important road win tonight. It was a well earned 3 points that keeps us in the hunt for a spot in the Big West Tournament," beamed a confident Head Coach Chris Volk. "I am pleased with the performance of all of our players. Each player was committed to helping the team achieve success tonight."
Calzada now takes the team lead with six goals including four in conference play. His opening tally proved to be the game-winner, his first of the season, and he added his second assist as well.
Phillips' goal was his fifth of the year, tied alongside Canales for second on the team. His pair of assists give him the team high with seven as well as in points with 17.
Mats Bjurman made his impact felt with a pair of assists giving him four on the year. Canales joined him with a pair giving him five on the season, second-most on the squad.
Senior Michael Breslin stopped three shots on the evening before leaving in the 61st minute with an injury. Elliot Farmer replaced him, but was not tested.
Along with Lara's first goal was Sperber's first assist on the year.
Others making an appearance included freshmen Corey Schramm, Tony Royer, Adam Fox, and Ignacio Ramirez, all making their Anteater debuts.
UCI managed 28 shots in the match, a season high, and its 17 shots on target set a program record previously at 16 that the squad tied earlier in conference play.
UCI will look to climb into a tie with CSUN for second in the conference on Saturday, October 24, with a trip to Northridge for a 7:00 p.m. contest.
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