FULLERTON, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer did what it needed coming from behind to beat Cal State Fullerton, 2-1, but it wasn't enough to secure a berth to the Big West Tournament.

Cal State Fullerton (9-7-3, 4-4-2) got on the board first with Samuel Goni, following a two-goal match in the last meeting, putting home another in the 22nd minute to push CSF to a 1-0 lead.

The 'Eaters (8-8-3, 3-5-2) answered back in the 35th minute as Ivan Canales emerged from the bench to put home a ball from Giovanni Godoy as the teams entered the half knotted at 1-1.

After a 9-4 shot advantage in the first half, that rolled into a goal early in the second half. A Cal State Fullerton yellow card gave UCI a penalty kick opportunity that Godoy would convert in the 54th minute to give the Anteaters the lead, 2-1.

Despite the pressure from the Titans and a pair of yellow cards from Mario Ortiz putting the 'Eaters a man down for the final 20 minutes, the Anteaters held firm on the backline keeping the lead and ending its four-match losing streak with a 2-1 victory.

UCI did all it could in Fullerton, but the UC RIverside Highlanders also secured its fourth victory of the season to secure the final South Division spot in the Big West Tournament.

Sophomore keeper Greg Patenaude secured his second win on the season and of his career with a single save on the evening. Giovanni Godoy earned three points to finish the season with a team and Big West leading 29 points behind 13 goals. Canales earned his eighth goal of the season as well.

The Anteaters finish the season with an 8-8-3 record going 3-5-2 in the conference.