IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara tussled in a rain-soaked match Sunday afternoon in Anteater Stadium with ESPN3 looking on, and an early score was all that was needed to secure a 1-0 victory for the Anteaters.
Early sprinkles turned into a downpour in the 19th minute as UCI (12-5-1, 4-1-1) broke through the chess match. The Gauchos (11-4-2, 2-3-1) were dispossessed as they approached midfield by Alex Karlowitsch who turned and headed for goal. Her lead pass found Noel Baham, and she raced past the Gaucho defender beating the keeper to her right for the opening strike to give UCI the 1-0 lead.
The shot was the last one the Anteaters took as they battened down the hatches on the defensive side. UCSB hoisted three shots in the half to lead the team into the half, but all were blocked keeping them off the board and the score at 1-0.
The Gauchos continued to hunt for the equalizer with numerous corner kick and free kick opportunities in the second half. UCSB outshot the 'Eaters 10-0 as UCI turned away seven of the shots with blocks from defenders.
The match came to a head in the 81st minute as UCSB finally tested Maddie Newsom in net. A corner kick settled in the box, and Sydney Magnin poked a shot toward goal the Newsom turned aside. The rebound fell to the side of the box and returned to Mallory Hromatko, but Newsom flashed a brilliant stick save to preserve the lead and carry UCI to the 1-0 shutout.
The shutout is the ninth on the season for the team, eighth put up by Newsom as the 'Eaters have allowed just two goals in six Big West matches.
Baham delivered the game-winner for the second straight match. It's her third game-winner of the season, and sixth goal overall to boost her into the top five goalscorers in the conference.
Karlowitsch sparked the play and was rewarded with sixth assist, fourth-best in the Big West.
UCSB had seven different players take shots including three each by Sydney Fuertes and Sydney Magnin. It lost the services of their forward Amanda Ball midway through the first half with an injury. Defensively, Brittney Rogers only saw two shots saving one of them.
Today's win is significant for the program as it marks the 300th victory in UC Irvine women's soccer history. As far as 2016 is concerned, the 'Eaters now stand tied atop the Big West standings with a 4-1-1 record and 13 points with the CSUN Matadors.
UCI will have a chance to sew things up themselves with a pair of matches against teams chasing them starting Friday, Oct. 28 at home against Hawai'i where the program will honor its seniors playing in their final home match at 7:00 p.m. UC Irvine closes the regular season out on the road at Cal State Fullerton on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 2:00 p.m.
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