IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine corralled another Pac-12 opponent with a 1-0 victory Sunday in Anteater Stadium over Oregon.
For the program, its the 19th win all-time against a Pac-12 foe and fourth against the Ducks. The most significant win of the afternoon belong to head coach
Scott Juniper who won game No. 114 of his career surpassing Marine Cano for the all-time program mark for UC Irvine women's soccer coaches.
"Goes without saying that there's just tons and tons of people, players, coaches, administrators that have all done their part in those wins so its a nice milestone for a lot of different people who are involved. I like to think that milestones are like seeing a bear on a hike: pretty cool for a moment, but you better keep moving because there's something a lot cooler around the corner or over the next peak so we'll enjoy it for the moment, but will move on pretty quick."
UCI (3-1-3) came out with most of the early offensive chances highlighted by a flurry late in the half on shots from
Noel Baham and
Claire Grouwinkel which set up a corner in the 37th minute.
Reema Bzeih scalded a corner into the middle of the box, and
Grayson Galbraith rose above everyone to drill home a header and put UCI up, 1-0. The lead carried through to halftime as did a 9-2 shot advantage and all five of the match's shots on target.
Oregon (4-2-0) pushed the envelope with some early second half chances testing
Maddie Newsom a couple times. The Anteater freshmen
Sydney Carr and
Claire Grouwinkel got the 'Eater attack back on track with some dangerous opportunities including a 1v1 try by Carr in the 84th minute, but Duck keeper Halla Hinriksdottir turned it away for 1 of her 5 saves. The Anteater backline was just a touch stronger on the day as the final whistle blew on a 1-0 Anteater win.
For Galbraith, its her first start since returning from injury. She came on as a sub in Friday's draw, but was ready for the significant time Sunday, and answered the bell with her first points of the season and first career game-winner, fourth overall goal in her career. Bzeih was on the case with another assist, her fourth of the season and third in as many games. Flying under the radar once again was the defensive performance posting its fifth shutout in the last six matches and its unbeaten streak goes to six games now at 3-0-3. Newsom held firm with three saves while Hinriksdottir turned five away for the Ducks.
"I feel really good about this win," noted head coach
Scott Juniper. "Of course we beat that team a year ago, but our team is never intimidated no matter what conference an opponent is from. We treat every opponent with respect which is deserved, they're a very good squad. Our job is to stand up and play the game we want to play it, and that was something our team did a fantastic job of today."
The match was added after Oregon's match vs. Texas A&M was canceled. As a response, UCI's student-athlete advisory committee took donations in the form of clothing and other items as well as monetary donations.
The move is back to the stretch of WCC opponents next week with the first of four straight on Friday, Sept. 15 at San Diego. The match starts at 5:00 p.m. before returning to Anteater Stadium on Sunday for a 2:00 p.m. tussle with Pepperdine.
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