IRVINE, Calif. --- A late first half goal got the ball rolling turning it into a 4-0 victory Wednesday night over UC Riverside in Anteater Stadium.
Alvaro Quezada, a sub in the 34th minute, made an immediate impact. As the 'Eaters (7-4-3, 2-1-2) worked out of their defensive third,
Daniel Crisostomo led the charge giving way to
Jose Ortiz who found Quezada on the wing, and Quezada ripped a shot across goal inside the far post to get UCI on the board just before the half, 1-0 in the 40th minute.
UCI quickly doubled its lead with Crisostomo starting it off again. He found Quezada on the touchline, and his passback was volleyed perfectly into the upper right by
Jose Ortiz making it 2-0 in the 48th minute.
UC Riverside (1-11-0, 1-4-0) didn't back down with a flurry of shots proceeding the goal including four from Edward Benito and a pinpoint header off a corner from Antonio Lokossou, but
Alex Waldron kept the offense back as part of his three saves.
UCI would turn on the jets late, particularly
Giovanni Godoy, as the final 10 minutes approached.
Ivan Canales and
Mario Ortiz led the breakout finding Godoy who would drive the final 45 yards and slide a shot around keeper Vincent Morales making it a 3-0 game in the 80th minute.
Two minutes later, the Anteaters were set up for a free kick outside the box in the 82nd minute. Godoy stepped up and pounded a goal into the same corner as Ortiz for the finishing blow of a 4-0 victory.
A lot of the stats were even as UCI outshot the Highlanders, 17-15, while UCR took a 4-3 advantage in corners. Waldron stopped three shots to preserve the shutout while Morales finished with four, and each keeper got help from his backline clearing a ball of the line for them.
Quezada was credited with the game-winner, the first of his career on his second career goal. He added his second career assist joining
Jose Ortiz who had a goal and assist on the evening. Canales joined Ortiz and Quezada each putting up their second assists on the season.
Mario Ortiz added a sixth assist on Godoy's first goal while Crisostomo had a pair, his second multi-assist match of the season extending his conference-leading total to nine. Godoy's brace is his second of the season, both coming in Big West play.
All of the scoring action gives UCI eight points in the Big West South vaulting it into the lead a full point ahead of Cal State Fullerton who drew with CSUN. The Matadors remain in third with five points, a pair clear of UC Riverside. UCI will duel with CSUN next on Saturday, Oct. 14 with a 7:00 p.m. match in Northridge.
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