IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine and UC Davis juggled the match between them, and the Aggies commanded the second half scoring twice to erase a halftime deficit and win, 3-2, Saturday night in Anteater Stadium.
UC Davis (5-4-1, 1-1-0) drew first blood with the match's opening strike in the seventh minute. Miguel Acevedo hit Evan Barrett in stride along the right wing, and the midfielder finished slotting it around the keeper to make it 1-0, Aggies.
UCI (2-9, 0-2) got its offense going later in the half. After four early shots from Mario Ortiz all coming up empty, the 'Eaters built up into the 33rd minute, and a cross from Thomas Janjigian was deflected toward goal and Luis Leon pounced on it helping the ball in to draw level, 1-1.
UCI took the lead with its next action. A lead pass to Leon in an offside position was let go, and a UCD defender ran onto it. Leon tracked him down for the steal, and turned to goal depositing the go-ahead strike to make it 2-1 in the 34th minute.
The Anteaters entered the half with their first lead of the season which held early on in the second half.
Big play in the 61st minute as a long punt into the attacking third was met just outside the box by Aggie keeper Armando Quezada, defender Onah Power, and Giovanni Godoy. Quezada and Power collided sending Power flying, Quezada down, and Godoy strewn about trying to gather the free ball. Godoy fired a shot from the seat of his pants, but an Aggie defender tracked back to clear the shot off the line and keep the deficit at 2-1.
After a short stoppage, play resumed and UC Davis found its equalizer just 30 seconds later. Greg Salazar crossed a ball to Brian Quintero who headed it back across to an open Noah Wilson for the header goal in the 61st minute knotting things at 2-2.
The Aggies forged on and took the lead in the 67th minute led on by a corner and shot that was initially saved by Alex Waldron, but the rebound popped to Chase Rhode who finished and snagged the 3-2 lead for UCD.
The Aggie defense held down the stretch as the 'Eaters mustered just one solid chance. Michael Sperber drove off right wing unimpeded in the 80th minute, but his shot was knocked away by Quezada to keep the lead and help secure the victory, 3-2.
UC Irvine is still without a point early on in Big West play now 0-2, 2-9 overall. Waldron managed three saves in net along with Quezada. Quezada was helped out by two team saves by his defenders.
Leon's two goals make him the team's active leader with six in his career. It also gives him three this season and eight points to top the squad.
Janjigian added his second assist of the year, and he also leads all active 'Eaters with eight career. Daniel Crisostomo helped with the first goal collecting his first career point and assist.
The road doesn't get any easier as the 'Eaters head up to UC Santa Barbara (Thursday) and Cal Poly (Saturday) this week, and have already dropped to the bottom of the Big West South table behind Cal State Fullerton (3 points), UC Riverside (4), and CSUN (6).
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