IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara met in Anteater Stadium Saturday night on a damp but clear night unable to determine a winner finishing with a 2-2 draw and a point to each in the Big West race.
The dynamic UC Santa Barbara (7-6-1, 1-2-1) side was off to the races getting a chance to score early in the ninth minute. An unlucky hand ball in the box awarded the Gauchos with a penalty try, and Rodney Michael stepped up, but his chance careened off the right post and back into play keeping the match scoreless.
UC Irvine (9-4-2, 3-0-1) would turn that stroke of luck into opportunity in the 14th minute after earning a free kick on the left wing right near the touchline.
Daniel Crisostomo stood over the ball and smashed a perfect strike over the leaping keeper, under the crossbar, off the far post, and in for an immaculate goal and the Anteater 1-0 lead.
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Both sides smacked the ball around the yard for the remainder of the half, but couldn't find any goals. The Gauchos did earn four yellow cards out of the five issued.
The second half opened with more cards starting with a second yellow issued to UC Santa Barbara head coach Tim Vom Steeg earning him an ejection.
UCI would get another lucky bounce to extend their goal advantage. Gaucho keeper Ben Roach gave the ball away right in front of his own end setting
Ivan Canales up for the easy goal to make it 2-0 Anteaters in the 63rd minute.
UCSBÂ didn't sit back getting a goal back in the 72nd minute. A foul along the right sideline about 50 yards away set up a free kick for Ignacio Tellechea. His low feed into the box bounced first off Michael before finding Hunter Ashworth's head to lead the ball on through traffic and by
Greg Patenaude in net before he could react to make it a 2-1 Anteater lead.
The Gauchos quickly equalized on a very athletic goal from Carson Vom Steeg in the 77th minute. Rodney Michael's cross bounded through the box out of the reach of a diving Patenaude and off Anteater defender
Ateno Ajeakwa, but his touch poked to Vom Steeg who stopped and readjusted his leg guiding the rebound back on net and in to tie things at 2-2.
The Gauchos attack heightened down the final minutes of regulation earning four of their five corners through the final seven minutes, but nothing was falling and the match spilled into overtime.
Neither overtime period produced any real chances. UCSBÂ had the lone opportunity to the end the match in the 108th minute. Driving toward goal, Rodney Michael slipped by the defense all alone for a 1v1 opportunity, but Patenaude was on the scene sliding to stop the shot and turn it away preserving the Anteater point for a 2-2 draw.
Each side earns a point in the Big West table. UCI becomes the first conference program to reach 10 points this season as they remain atop the table. UCSBÂ now has four points total putting them in a tie for sixth.
Crisostomo's goal is the third for him on the season and in his career. For the team, its the third goal put away off a set piece. Canales' goal is his sixth along with his 16th point, both second on the squad. Both Anteater goals were unassisted.
Patenaude finished with three saves picking up just the second draw of his career. His counterpart, Ben Roach, saved two shots.
UC Irvine is back with two matches next week starting at home Wednesday, Oct. 17, with a 7:00 p.m. start time. It will also be the final home match for the 'Eaters, and the program will celebrate its six seniors. UCI heads to the road on Sunday to finish the week at Cal Poly.
NOTES: UC Irvine becomes the second team to score multiple goals against UCSBÂ in a game this season...
Ivan Canales' goal was the 21st of his career placing him 10th in program history...Canales earned points 60 and 61 becoming the eighth Anteater in program history with 60 or more points...Anteater opponents have now missed both of their last two penalty kick tries...the Anteater men's soccer program honored its 2008 squad with a halftime ceremony at the match
