IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine got its first game action of 2018 Thursday afternoon in Anteater Stadium to the tune of a 2-0 victory over visiting CSU Bakersfield.

The Anteaters dominated the first half taking all seven shots and testing Roadrunner keeper Detre Bell early and often. UCI got on the board first with help from some fancy footwork in the 27th minute. Alvaro Quezada streaked down the left wing cutting back at the touchline and feeding a pass into the box that Ivan Canales connected with and in off Bell's gloves to make it a 1-0 Anteater advantage.

UCI quickly doubled its led as Canales was back on the case in the 36th minute. He found himself with a golden opportunity in the box that was initially saved by Bell. The rebound sprung out and Canales chased it down and fired it back on net where it was deflected to the other side of the box for the waiting Axel Adler to tap it back in for the 2-0 lead.

The Anteaters would ride that out through the second half finishing with a 16-4 shot advantage in a match where 23 Anteaters saw the pitch to preserve the 2-0 win.

UCI isn't done with its exhibition play finishing up Sunday, August 19, with a 7:00 p.m. road trip to UCLA before starting the regular season next week at San Diego on August 24.