IRVINE, Calif. --- The Anteaters were saved once again in double overtime on a header from
Kelsee Pottorff to lift UC Irvine over UC Santa Barbara, 2-1, Friday night at Anteater Stadium.
The decisive strike came on a rather innocuous free kick at midfield. Keeper
Maddie Newsom punted it high into the box toward a sea of Anteaters and Gauchos, but it hopped over everyone and onto the streaking
Kelsee Pottorff who got all the way up to redirect the ball over Gaucho keeper Hanna DeWeese with a header flick to end the match in the 102nd minute.
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The win boosts UC Irvine into sole possession of first place early in conference play with a 2-0-0 record, and lifts them to a winning record for the first time this season at 6-5-1 on its fourth straight victory.
The sides played about as even a match as you can make it with each program recording 16 shots while UC Santa Barbara (8-5-0, 1-1-0) with one more foul and corner kick.
UCI got the scoring started back in the first half coming in the 40th minute. An initial cross into the box was cleared out to
Elizabeth Hutchison who would feed a half volley back in, and it found
Shelby Lee near the right post as she would slide a header around the charging keeper and in for the 1-0 Anteater advantage into the half.
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UC Santa Barbara evened the score soon after the start of the second half on a fantastic strike. Another long feed from beyond the midway point from Sophia Dertorossian landed to Shaelan Murison near the top of the box, and her first touch was a sharp volley off the inside of her foot somehow wrapping around Anteater keeper
Maddie Newsom and inside the far post tying things at 1-1 in the 49th minute.
Each side had chances to end it earlier as
Aleah Kelley got her head on a few corner kicks once again with her best chance coming in the 66th minute needing a timely leap from DeWeese to keep the ball out of the back of the net. The Gauchos hung their chances on forward Shaelan Murison time and time again as she would punt a pair building 1v1 opportunities high, once in the 84th minute and again in the 94th minute of the first overtime period.
Both keepers were up to the task as DeWeese led the way saving seven of UCI's nine shots on frame. Newsom made six saves on the evening and even added an assist on the game-winning goal, her second of the season and career both coming in the last three matches.
Pottorff's opportune goal was also her first of her career and first career game-winner coming in game No. 52 for the senior. She doubled her career point total on the strike having recorded two assists over her career.
The other Anteater goal came from
Shelby Lee, another senior, for her first of the season and fourth of her career. Hutchison added an assist on the goal, her second of the season and third of her career.
Big West play charges on with the next match back in Anteater Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 7 welcoming in Cal Poly.
NOTES: UC Irvine sported their new pink uniforms which will be worn for all October home matches in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month...
Kelsee Pottorff scored her first career goal on the same day her sister, Karlee, scored her first career goal for San Jose State...9 of UCI's 12 matches have finished as one-goal games, UCI's record is 6-3 in those...
Maddie Newsom's six saves surpassed Marissa Welliver into fourth all-time in program history with 188 career saves...Newsom also won her 29th career game pushing her into third all-time in program history untying her with Kirsten Roy
