IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine and CSUN went blow-for-blow Saturday night in Anteater Stadium, and the Anteaters snagged three big points taking the match, 4-3.

Entering the match, UCI (4-11-0, 2-4-0) only had two matches all season where five total goals had been scored; that number was matched Saturday night – in the first half.

The goal deluge began in the sixth minute after each squad had already gotten a save from a defensive field player. CSUN (5-6-3, 2-2-2) would start the show making a break down the right wing, and Jumoke Hutton delivered a strike into the box finding Bar Shem Tov on the doorstep to punt it home and give the Matadors a 1-0 lead.

The Anteaters answered swiftly led by a brilliant play between Thomas Janjigian and Jose Ortiz. The duo linked up to set up Ivan Canales who curled a shot over the keeper and tucked it under the bar for the equalizer in the ninth minute, 1-1.

CSUN would quench a 14-minute scoring drought earning a penalty shot after a foul and yellow card issued to Matthew Tilley in the box. Juan Samayoa stepped up and fired inside the right post just beating Elliot Farmer putting CSUN up, 2-1, in the 27th minute.

The 'Eaters and Canales came back to tie it again in the 29th minute. A corner kick bounded around the box before popping out the top of it. Canales ran onto it and scorched a low, rising liner through traffic and in to even the match at 2-2.

UCI grabbed the lead for itself late in the half with Janjigian earning the goal. Felipe Silva won the ball away from the keeper who was off his line, and it flipped out to the left wing for the waiting Janjigian. He laced the half-volley through the defense and inside the far post as it settled for the 3-2 Anteater lead in the 42nd minute.

UC Irvine entered the half with a 12-5 shot advantage and 9-1 corner kick advantage, and rode the momentum early in the second half.

A perfect lead pass to Manny Acosta was headed inches wide of Matador keeper Kevin Marquez, but it careened off the post and rolled through the goal mouth before being cleared keeping the margin at 3-2 in the early stages of the second half.

CSUN would counter and tie things back up in the 60th minute. Edwin Quiroz led another charge down the right wing with the 'Eater backline out of position. His feed ahead to Dre Deas put him in, and he finished under the oncoming Farmer to level the match back up at 3-3.

UCI held much of the possession up to that point, and after a few golden chances were turned away by Marquez, it finally got another one to fall.

Giovanni Godoy and Ivan Canales played off each other into the attacking third. Canales approached the box and laid one off to Jose Ortiz on the right wing. His move cleared the way for an empty-net shot to regain the lead, 4-3, in the 70th minute.

Things got a little tricky for CSUN in the 75th minute as a pair of yellow cards were issued which included one to Hutton, his second of the match, sending him off and leaving 10 Matadors to finish the match.

CSUN's continued to challenge UCI's defense, and served up a pair of solid chances. Bar Shem Tov worked for his second of the game snapping a hard, curving shot toward the far post that Farmer leapt to deny. The Matadors earned a late set piece from 40 yards out that was chipped into the mass in the box, but Farmer arose out of the crowd to intercept the cross denying an equalizer and sewing up his second win of the season, 4-3.

Canales brought home five points on the even led by his first career brace. Prior to tonight, he had earned as many as three points twice, both as a freshman, and it was only his second match earning a goal and assist matching his Oct. 21 performance at UC Riverside in 2015.

Janjigian and Ortiz each joined him with a goal and assist to their names, a first each for the senior and freshman. It also marks the second career goal for either player, and they both walked away with a career-high three points in the match.

Ortiz's goal finished as the game-winner, the first of his career. Another first came from Felipe Silva whose assist on Janjigian's goal was the first and first point of the sophomore's career.

Godoy added an assist, his second of the year with both coming in Big West matches.

Farmer brought down five saves along with a sixth stopped by Jorge Lara on the goalline. The win is his third career, and first that was not also a shutout. It is also the first win for the team in 2016 that was not a shutout. Marquez for CSUN stopped four shots and also had a clearance from his defense.

All of this means the 'Eaters are now 4-11 and keep pace in the Big West South with a 2-4 record and six points. The 'Eaters remain in fourth place in the division, but are breathing down the necks of Cal State Fullerton and their seven points, and CSUN who remains with eight points clinging to second place. UC Riverside dropped its first conference match of the season tonight so it stands firm with 13 points atop the table.

UCI looks to continue its upward trend with its final two road matches next week. It all kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 19 with a 7:00 p.m. match at Cal State Fullerton.

_________________________________________________________________

For UC Irvine Athletics ticket information, please call (949) 824-5000 or e-mail athletics.tickets@uci.edu. For more information click here.

For information on how you can help support UC Irvine Athletics, please call (949) 824-6933 or e-mail aaf@uci.edu. For additional information, click here.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and by downloading the UCI Front Row app, available free to all Anteater fans through iTunes and Google Play, to view schedules, results, and up-to-the-minute news.