IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine celebrated its seniors in the home finale Saturday night in Anteater Stadium, but couldn't match it on the field falling, 4-1, to CSUN.

UC Irvine (7-7-3, 2-4-2) fell into a hole early on a brilliant play by Emmanuel Usen Jr. Michael Flores' cross from the sideline found a high-leaping Usen Jr. who would put home the opener in the sixth minute giving CSUN (9-6-2, 4-2-2) the 1-0 edge.

UCI had five first-half corners and solid chances from Felipe Silva and Daniel Crisostomo, but couldn't find an equalizer before the break staring up at the 1-0 score at halftime.

The second half brought with it few scoring opportunities early, but lots of cautions. After a Victor Falck yellow in the first half, he was joined by Ivan Canales and Jose Soto in the first 10 minutes while Mauricio Lopez picked up one of his own.

The match carried on until the 72nd minute when Usen Jr. struck again. A steady drive up the field from CSUN ended in the box as Daniel Trejo flipped a pass near the right post that Usen Jr. brought down and punched inside the far post on his second touch to incrase the lead to 2-0.

The game took a big turn in the in the 77th minute as first CSUN would pick up another yellow, and then Christian Carrillo was issued a straight red to put the Anteaters down a man for the remaining 23 minutes.

It wouldn't take long for the Matadors to capitalize as Trejo drove entire half and finishing for CSUN's third goal in the 80th minute, and it would add a fourth in the 84th minute as Davis Moreno-Jaime danced and before beating Alex Waldron high to cement the 4-0 lead.

UCI brought one back in the 89th minute as Luis Leon worked a fine individual effort off a short corner to make it a 4-1 match, but that's all the 'Eaters would get falling for the third straight match.

UCI took the shot advantage, 16-11, but managed just one on net which proved to be the only goal. Alex Waldron made a pair of saves in the loss, one in each half. With the cautions, UC Irvine will lose the services of Christian Carrillo and Ivan Canales in its next match; Carrillo for the red card suspension and Canales due to card accumulation.

The 'Eaters fall farther from a title shot, but still hang on to its tournament berth status with a 2-4-2 conference record, a point ahead of UC Riverside for the third spot in the Big West South.

The two squads will come together Wednesday, Oct. 24, at UC Riverside for a 7:00 p.m. with a chance for either squad to create some clarification in the race.