IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer punched a ticket to the Big West Tournament in emphatic fashion besting Cal State Fullerton, 1-0, Sunday at Anteater Stadium to win the outright Big West regular season title.

Both sides began the match aggressively, and the physicality made its presence known as each squad had players dinged up early leading to a pivotal moment in the 29th minute.

Aleah Kelley and Titan forward Sarah Fajnor knocked heads in the Cal State Fullerton (11-4-3, 4-3-1) half. On the restart, Kelley was subbed off on the injury for Elizabeth Hutchison, and UCI (10-5-4, 5-2-1), after dealing with the set piece, charged down the other end. Hutchison was on the scene setting up Lili Andino whose shot from the center of the 18-yard box whisked inside the left post for the 1-0 Anteater lead in the 30th minute.

The squads pressed on into the half with the score remaining 1-0 in favor of UC Irvine. As the second half proceeded, each team began to pick up fouls and cards, and the chances soon followed.

The biggest sequence came in the 64th minute. Samantha McKenna found herself with the ball near the right post, but her first shot was swooped onto by Andrea Mensen. McKenna had a second opportunity that was also blocked out earning a corner kick for the Titans. The ensuing play fell to Nano Oronoz whose header was saved by Maddie Newsom to avert danger.

The Titans were back on it with chances in the 78th and 85th minute, and their best chance came in the 86th minute. A low goal kick from Newsom was snatched by Connie Caliz who drove right wing. Her cross was slipped through to Atlanta Primus who shot it right from the penalty spot, but Newsom was huge stopping the shot and spurning the 'Eaters on to the 1-0 victory and Big West title.

The game-winner came from Lili Andino, her third goal on the season, but first career game-winner. Assists came from Andrea Mensen and Elizabeth Hutchison, both firsts for each of their seasons.

Mensen was also instrumental on the backline helping secure a 10th shutout for the program in 2017 and eighth clean sheet for Newsom who saved five shots on the match. CSF keeper Morgan Bertsch stopped one shot on the other end.

UCI's regular season title is its third all-time joining the 2010 and 2011 squads that each took it, and sets UC Irvine up as the No. 1 seed in the Big West Tournament in Northridge beginning Thursday, Nov. 2. UCI will have a familiar opening-round foe as Cal State Fullerton clinched the No. 4 seed thanks to a Long Beach State win over UC Davis. UCI and CSF also met in the first round of the 2016 tournament that the 'Eaters also took thanks to a penalty kick shootout. The match will begin at 5:00 p.m. and be shown on ESPN3.