IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine and visiting CSUN played a spirited, up-tempo match Sunday afternoon in Anteater Stadium, and an early goal would prove enough for the Matadors to win 1-0.
CSUN (9-3-5, 4-1-1) made the most of an early opportunity as Cynthia Sanchez was rewarded for her aggression. After streaking through the midfield, Sanchez fed Camille Watson in the box. Watson laid off a pass for Sanchez that she would finish inside the left post for a 1-0 CSUN lead in the fourth minute.
The Anteaters (10-5-1, 2-1-1) nearly equalized on their first shot. Following a Kiana Palacios corner kick in the 26th minute, the ball bounded around the six-yard box for a good five seconds. Somehow, the Matadors were able to keep it out and hold on to their lead for the moment.
UCI had a few more golden chances including a dipping liner from Alex Karlowitsch that CSUN keeper needed to tip over to save, and a half-volley from Noel Baham that topped the crossbar by inches.
All this resulted in a 1-0 CSUN halftime lead with each team putting up four shots.
The Matadors nearly supplied the dagger after being awarded a penalty kick in the 54th minute. Camille Watson stepped up and fired left, but Maddie Newsom made the diving save to keep the 'Eaters within one.
UCI came right down to the offensive end just four minutes later and again came inches from tying the match as Grayson Galbraith returned a shot after McCaskill swatted it out. The shot struck the crossbar and post before being cleared keeping the 'Eaters out.
Each keeper stood tall down the stretch making key saves, and unfortunately nothing fell for UC Irvine as CSUN made its early goal stand up for the 1-0 win.
Both keepers finished with four saves while the CSUN defense added a fifth to their total. Shots were even until the final five minutes as the 'Eaters threw up a couple desperate attempts to finish with 10 to CSUN's eight.
The loss is the first of conference play while also conceding the first goal. UCI had started Big West play with a 294-minute shutout streak. With the five losses on the year, UCI has fallen by a score of 1-0 in all five including each of its last two home matches.
UCI failed to gain some separation from the rest of the conference, and instead sit in a four-team tie for the final tournament spot now at 2-1-1 with 7 points. One of the teams UCI knocked off this week in UC Davis, while the other two come to Anteater Stadium starting with Cal Poly (Fri., Oct. 21)
The Mustangs and Anteaters will play at 7:00 p.m. while the UCSB match will be at 2:00 p.m. broadcast on the bright lights of ESPN3.
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