IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine let an early lead and title slip away on a 96th-minute goal in overtime in Titan Stadium Sunday afternoon losing 2-1 to Cal State Fullerton.
The winning strike came on a low, steady shot from the top of the box from Sarah Fajnor that seemed to bypass the traffic and by Maddie Newsom before she could get sight of it completing the comeback for Cal State Fullerton (8-10, 5-3).
UCI (13-6-1, 5-2-1) had grabbed the lead just before the halftime whistle as the Titans flubbed numerous chances to clear a ball, and feeding Elizabeth Hutchison perfectly to loft it up and over Titan keeper Jennifer Stuart in the 44th minute to put the 'Eaters ahead 1-0 at the break.
CSF tied things up on an unfortunate own goal in the 67th minute. A high free kick faded to the back post and found an Anteater defender whose clearing header went back across and inside the left post instead put the squads level at 1-1.
The Anteaters closed in on a game-winner late in regulation with the final eight shots of the half including a perfect through ball to Noel Baham in the 88th minute putting her in all alone against Stuart. Following a collision, Baham seemed to have possession behind Stuart before getting tackled in her attempt to grab the ball. The ball rolled toward the goal before a Titan defender cleared it at the last moment and save the tie and send the match into overtime.
The goal from Hutchison was the first and first point of her two-year career. Newsom snatched four saves in net matching her counterpart Stuart.
The loss ends a few Anteater trends: it's the first time this season UCI has lost a game in which they scored after winning the previous 13. UCI had also won its first six matches when leading at halftime. This was the sixth match to go to overtime for the 'Eaters now standing with a 2-3-1 record in those contests.
The loss doesn't hurt the 'Eaters as bad knowing they still will take part in the Big West Tournament next week finishing in second place with a 5-2-1 mark. UCI will rematch with the Titans in the semifinal on November 3 at George Allen Field on the campus of Long Beach State. The match will start at 7:30 p.m.
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