RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- UC Irvine got back on the winning track posting a pair of first half goals to sink UC Riverside, 2-0, Sunday night at UCR Soccer Field.
UCI (9-4-1, 1-0-1) put home its first shot in the ninth minute as Noel Baham slid down the touchline and crossed to Sammie James sitting unmarked in the box to put home the opener making it 1-0.
The 'Eaters snagged a little insurance in the 41st minute thanks to a steal from Grayson Galbraith setting up Lili Andino on the left side to put it away and make it 2-0 going into the half.
Meanwhile, Maddie Newsom protected her goal collecting four saves and keeping the match in order to secure her second straight shutout and sixth of the year for the 2-0 UCI victory.
UCI's result gives it four points through two Big West matches putting it in a tie for second place with Long Beach State and two points behind Cal State Fullerton.
James' goal proved to be the game-winner, and was her second of the season, both game-winners. Andino put away her fifth goal of the season putting her squarely at second on the squad.
Assists for Baham and Galbraith were their seventh and sixth of the season, respectively, both tops on the team.
Alanna Guzman stopped three shots on her end for UC Riverside (3-7-3, 0-2-0).
The 'Eaters snapped a string of four matches without a win or a goal while taking the ninth matchup out of 10 against UC Riverside in coach Juniper's tenure. Newsom and the defense now have a stretch of 200 minutes without allowing a goal.
That streak will live one for a little longer as the 'Eaters have 10 days until they return to the pitch following a week off next week. The next contest comes on Thursday, Oct. 13 with another road tilt, this time at 3:00 p.m. at UC Davis.
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