Box Score LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer made another big second half push on the heels of its defense to score a second straight shutout, 2-0, Thursday night over LMU at Sullivan Field.
Much like the team's Monday match, the first half was eventful, but beared no goals as the teams scrounged together 16 shots.
The Anteaters (5-2-1) continued the similarities with an early second-half goal earning a penalty kick in the 53rd minute that
Giovanni Godoy would convert to make it 1-0, 'Eaters.
LMU (1-6-2) would respond looking for an equalizer putting eight shots up in the second half as part of their 17-13 shot advantage on the evening, but could not solve
Alex Waldron who made five saves and got help from his backline for a sixth.
The Lions were down a man in the 82nd minute after Camilo Rey would be given a straight red card, and that opened up UCI to the final blow in the match as
Daniel Crisostomo and
Jose Ortiz linked up for a goal in the 83rd minute to put the nail in the coffin of a 2-0 victory.
Waldron's five saves ties a career high as he and his defense have now built a shutout streak of 218 minutes much to the delight of head coach
Yossi Raz who returned to the sideline for the match.
"We played a quality LMU team that may be deceiving when you just look at their record. Especially in the first half, they pressured us, but I was very proud of the boys' ability to cope with the challenge they provided, being able to bend without breaking without allowing a goal so credit to the backline and the defensive side of the team. Going consecutive games without giving up a goal is something we should take pride in."
Godoy's PK goal marks his fourth goal of the season, three of which are game-winners, and two now in the span of four days. Ortiz's goal is his second of the season while Crisostomo's assist marks his fifth of the season and fourth in as many matches.
"We've reached a crucial point in the season with three games in a very short period of time with very little time to recover or to prepare tactically so we're very happy that we could overcome the Lions' attack as we lead into Sunday's match in front of our fans and alums in Anteater Stadium."
The 'Eaters bring their newfound shutout streak back home for a Sunday match vs. San Francisco, Sept. 24, on the tailend of a doubleheader with the women. The match will start at 4:30 p.m. with alums encouraged to come for the match and gather postmatch with current players and coaches.