NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer could not keep up with the CSUN offense Saturday night failing to fully surmount a two-goal second half deficit at Matador Soccer Field.

The scoring began in the 18th minute as Jumoke Hutton linked up with Daniel Trejo putting home the opener for a 1-0 CSUN (7-6-2, 2-2-2) lead.

The Anteaters (7-5-3, 2-2-2) returned the favor in the 24th minute as Giovanni Godoy was the recipient of a brilliant run up the field between Mario Ortiz and Ivan Canales to tie things up at 1-1.

Alex Waldron kept the match stable making three first-half saves to keep the contest level through halftime.

The Matadors came back to take the lead early in the second half as Trejo added his second of the match in the 50th minute to get the lead back, 2-1.

CSUN made the next move adding to the lead in the 74th minute as Alex Lara's first goal of the season off an assist from the keeper put the Matadors up, 3-1.

UCI finally cut into the lead in the 87th minute as Godoy matched Trejo with his second off of one of the team's eight second-half corner kicks leaving a glimmer of hope to tie the match up.

CSUN's defense held the lead, however, to finish off the 3-2 victory to cinch up the Big West South. UCI and CSUN now sit atop the Big West South with eight points each.

Godoy finished with a brace in his second straight game as he ups his Big West-leading goal total to 11. Assisting on each goal was Mario Ortiz giving him five in his last four matches and eight on the season, second on the squad. Canales added an assist now with three on the season.

Alex Waldron stopped five shots while CSUN's Henrik Regitnig stopped three of his own.

These squads will get together a week from now in Anteater Stadium in the 'Eaters' final home match of the season. UCI will have one home match between now at then as Cal State Fullerton shows up Wednesday night, Oct. 18, with a 7:00 p.m. match.