IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine started the season on the right foot scoring a 4-2 win over Fairfield Friday night in Anteater Stadium.
The 'Eaters were paced by sophomore Lili Andino who flew into action as a sub in the 31st minute, and by the 39th she already had two goals.
The first was a beauty as UCI (1-0-0) set up for a free kick from 30 yards out. Alex Karlowitsch shot one down the line to Noel Baham who crossed it from the touchline into the box, and Andino redirected it on frame and in for the 1-0 lead in the 38th minute.
Andino was back at it just one minute and 34 seconds later. Baham crossed it in from a similar spot and was flicked on by Kiana Palacios on its way to Andino who did the rest to make it 2-0.
Fairfield (0-1-0) didn't let the Anteaters get too far away answering back just 29 seconds later as Brenna Brown found herself all along in the 18-yard box, and put a goal of her own away inside the right post cutting the lead to 2-1 as the teams entered the half.
The Stags pressured out of the half, and both squads had their opportunities, but the 'Eaters finally broke through for the next score in the 66th minute. Freshman Jessica Miclat left her mark in the debut drawing a foul in the box to send Palacios to the spot and score making it 3-1, UC Irvine.
Palacios returned in the 72nd minute with a jaw-dropping score to make it 4-1. She gained possession along the right wing, turned to goal, and fired from 20 yards out lofting a pace-filled ball toward to opposite corner and sneaking it under the bar for an impossible-angle goal and her second of the night.
The Stags kept the pressure on, and got another back in the 83rd minute after a long clearance found Sara Plowman in stride. She hit a streaking Brown on the left wing who punted her second of the night in to make it 4-2.
The scoring would finally subside to that 4-2 final, but not without countless more chances. Alex Karlowitsch and Grayson Galbraith were both snubbed twice each on hearty strikes, and Jonnae Joseph ran onto a ball and obliterated it from 35 yards out. Each time, Stag keeper Jenna Pike was up to the task as part of her seven saves on the night.
She was even helped on by defender Mel HIngher on one occasion as Fairfield turned away a barrage of Anteater shots after UCI put 12 of their 17 attempts on target including all four from Andino.
Fairfield had their share putting six of nine on target and one off the post in the early stages. Freshman keeper Maddie Newsom made the saves she needed to posting four stops in her Anteater debut to pick up her first win.
"I was excited to get back in there and play," noted upbeat, fifth-year senior Kelsey Texeira. "We started out a little slow, getting a feel of the game and each other, and then once it clicked it started to flow really well through each line of the field."
The 'Eaters just production from the entirety of their lineup as a total of six Anteaters made their debuts including transfers Reema Bzeih, Maritza Acuna, and Isabella Gutierrez. Carley Brown added to the players making their collegiate debut tonight.
The four goals by the Anteaters and six total goals in a win are the most since October of 2014 when UCI needed two overtimes to beat CSUN, 4-3, something Texeira and the squad as a whole can learn from amongst the offensive outburst.
"One thing we need to work on is keeping focused after we score goals. We have to come back and make sure we're still checked in and ready to keep the other team from getting their crosses and shots, keep checked in on every play."
The four goals in a non-conference match are the most since 2010 when the Anteaters dropped six on Gonzaga. It's also the first win in a season opener since a 2-1 victory against UTSA in 2011.
Andino posted her first career brace while tripling her career goal total. Palacios' five points were the most in a game in her career while the brace was her second, both coming in her last three matches.
Noel Baham scored assist Nos. 6 and 7 of her career. It was her second career two-assist match.
Up next for Kelsey and the squad are a Saint Mary's squad coming off a 2-0 loss to Cal State Fullerton Friday night. The 'Eaters and Gaels square off in Anteater Stadium, Sunday, Aug. 21, at 2:00 p.m.
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