SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. --- UC Irvine secured its fifth Big West regular season title with a goal with two seconds left in double overtime dropping Cal Poly, 3-2, Sunday evening at Spanos Stadium.
As the final 10 seconds of double overtime counted down, the Anteaters (11-4-2, 5-0-1) set up for a free kick in the attacking third, and
Daniel Crisostomo chipped a ball into the box.
Darren Hamilton found the high ball heading it along toward the goal onto
Ivan Canales who got a head to it before keeper Simon Boehme could slipping it past him for the game-winner with two seconds left on the clock for the third Anteater goal of the night clinching a Big West title.
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Canales had a hand in all three goals on the night starting with the opener in the 30th minute. The 'Eaters earned a corner that was launched long of the far post, but kept in and passed back to Hamilton who flipped a shot over the keeper and off the crossbar settling on Canales who put the ball in for the 1-0 UCI lead.
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UC Irvine kept the one-goal advantage at the half including a 12-4 advantage in the shot department, and nearly added to it in the opening minute of the second half. The 'Eaters got an opportunity at the penalty spot, but
Jose Ortiz's penalty attempt was saved keeping the match at 1-0. UCI would add to the lead in the 50th minute driving through the midfield before finding Canales again. His half-volley touch found
Alvaro Quezada streaking down the left wing, and he would bury his shot upping the UCI lead to 2-0.
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The match would turn around abruptly in the 78th minute as Cal Poly (5-8-2, 1-4-1) was gifted a PK on a hand ball in the box. Sean Goode converted and brought the match back within one, 2-1. Less than a minute later, Goode was on the run after a long ball from Brecc Evans, and Goode finished on the breakaway to tie things up, 2-2, in the matter of 46 seconds.
The match was destined for overtime with the Mustangs, needing a win to stay alive for the postseason, on the attack for most of the first overtime period. The second overtime period wound down until putting the winner away for the second straight 2OT victory and third on the season.
Canales had a career night contributing on all three goals and putting up a career high five points. He's put home a brace in consecutive matches now and fourth time in his career, and took over the team and conference with 10 goals on the year. He added an assist, his fifth this year, and also the 20th of his career making him the fourth Anteater to reach that mark. He also became the second Anteater joining Kevin Smith and seventh player in Big West history with 20 goals and 20 assists over a career.
Also earning points on the night were
Darren Hamilton assisting on each of Canales' goals upping his season total to three. Quezada's goal was his fifth of the season and second in conference play.
Greg Patenaude earned his 11th win of the season while stopping four shots. His counterpart, Boehme, stopped eight, and each side had a team save from its defense.
The Big West regular season title is the fifth in program history and first since 2013. UC Irvine's unbeaten streak improves to six matches now with a 5-0-1 record in Big West play.
The 'Eaters have a final conference matchup on Saturday, October 27, for a 7:00 p.m. match at CSUN. The title locks UCI in as the No. 1 seed in the Big West Tournament and bye through to the Big West Semifinals on Sat. Nov. 3.
NOTES: Canales reached 70 points for his career, the fourth Anteater to reach 70 joining Matt Murphy, P.J. Polowski, and Brad Evans...Canales' produced the 14th 10-goal season for an Anteater...Canales posted the 11th 25-point season in program history as well
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