Anteaters' Four-Goal Outburst Downs LMU
September 24, 2015 | Men's Soccer
IRVINE, Calif. --- Men's soccer found their scoring shoes to set the 861 in attendance ablaze putting up a 4-1 win over LMU Thursday night in Anteater Stadium.
A scoreless first half was not without its moments. Near-goals from Mats Bjurman, Jaime Phillips, and Luis Leon for the Anteater side and a brilliant chance near the end of the half by Grant Sampson were foiled by each keeper. UC Irvine (2-4-2) did hold the advantage in shots, 8-6, and in corner kicks, 5-1.
The second half got going in the 51st minute. Eduardo Calzada picked up a corner on the edge of the offensive third. He lofted a high cross toward the left of the box that was headed back into the box from the touchline by Ivan Canales. His header bounced before Leon ran onto it and chopped a shot into the turf that popped into the roof of the net to severed the tie and give UCI the 1-0 lead.
Leon was at it again in the 64th following a long clearance by keeper Michael Breslin. Phillips made a determined effort to win the ball just across midfield, and charged toward goal. He fed an open Canales at the top of the box who relayed it ahead to Leon on the doorstep who just needed a little head-fake to open up the net and extend the lead to 2-0.
The 'Eaters rode the momentum into the 68th minute. Phillips made another stellar win on a 50/50 ball, and shot towards the goal slipping his first career goal in for a three-goal advantage for UCI.
LMU (5-4-0) would not relent answering each goal with offensive rushes. It would pay off in the 80th minute drawing a foul in the box. Alvaro Madrigal buried his PK into the right side bringing the score to 3-1, Anteaters.
UC Irvine went right back on the attack regaining the three-goal edge in the 85th minute. Another offensive construction led toward goal finishing with Calzada cleaning up his own mess and following his shot in for the fourth and final tally of the match, and the eventual 4-1 victory.
"It feels really good," Phillips said of netting his first goal, "but the most important thing is that we got a win like this, we really needed it. We've been working really hard, and with a lot of new players it was difficult in the beginning, but we're getting ready for conference and aiming toward that. Getting a very good win is exciting and an important boost to our confidence."
Phillips was joined by Leon as players depositing their first career goals. For Leon, it was two which included Phillips' first career assist on the second strike and eventual game-winner.
Calzada joined Phillips as players with a goal and assist on the night. Canales recorded a pair of assists helping Leon on each of his finishes, the first two of his career.
Even Breslin got into the act with an assist, the third of his career helping along one in each of the last three seasons. On the defensive end, he made three saves despite losing a home shutout streak after 636 minutes and 26 consecutive saves.
"Our lines were well-connected tonight. We had good defensive presence in the midfield where we've been lacking a little bit," Head Coach Chris Volk said of the defensive effort backing the offense. "The combination of Sperber and Mats and Daniel coming in and shoring up the middle of the park for us did really well. The discipline the guys showed tonight is something I've been on the group about as far as the frustration and cards that we've had comes from the lack of scoring goals. We kind of rode through that. We showed our true character tonight and what this group can be when we're all on the same page."
The scoring did help spur on the defensive and midfield play. The four-goal plateau is something UCI reached just once last season, and is only the second time it's happened since 2011. The last four-goal effort in Anteater Stadium came in 2010 as part of a 7-2 win against Cal State Fullerton.
"I think we were opportunistic on the first, and the second goal was well taken by Luis. For Jaime, who has been a proven goalscorer, for him to get his first Division I goal, we are very happy for him. For Lalo, he kind of stuck with that last play, and got an opportunistic goal at the end."
"We really felt the support," added a smiling Phillips. "We felt the fans gave us strength, and we were able to perform well."
"We have enough quality in our team that we can score goals. The fact that we scored three goals in the first seven games lends to us playing in some pretty tough environments. It's not easy to score goals anywhere especially the road. Nice to do it at home at Welcome Week in front of our fans."
The 'Eaters are going to need the goals entering another hostile environment at UCLA Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. The Bruins last two matches have gone 4-1 for them and 4-2 against them so the firepower will be at a premium. UCI is coming off a win in the last meeting between the two: a 3-1 victory in Anteater Stadium back in 2013.
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