IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine earned its first result of the 2018 season locking up with Utah Sunday afternoon in Anteater Stadium on a 1-1 tie.
The Anteaters (0-2-1) got the scoring started with a little help from Utah (1-1-1) as a hand ball in the box in the 20th minute set up a penalty kick. Freshman defender
Kala McDaniel earned the attempt and punched it home giving UCI its first goal and lead of the season, 1-0.
UC Irvine brought the lead with them into the half along with a slight shot advantage. The second half belonged to Utah at times as they registered the first five shots of the half. Two those tested 'Eater netminderÂ
Maddie Newsom including a laser free kick from Paola van der Veen in the 72nd minute.
Amber Huff nearly added to the lead as a ball popped to her along the right wing, and her first-touch volley screamed around the far post missing by inches.
That would prove important as Utah continued to bear down on the Anteater goal, and found an opening in the 84th minute. Demi Lopez made an opportunistic steal in their offensive half and started things in motion feeding Makayla Christensen who fought through the defense and by Newsom tying things with just over six minutes in regulation.
As the match progressed to overtime, each squad turned up the aggression putting shots on frame in the first period.
Lili Andino had the best overtime chance heading a ball on frame in the 96th minute.
Utah countered in the second overtime period with a chance by van der Veen who dribbled herself free along the left wing and fired on Newsom from the edge of the box. The last final scoring chance of the afternoon came in the 105th minute after a clearance in the Anteater attacking end went long and the Utes earn possession with Newsom well off her line. The odd-man attack never materialized as her teammate was offside and the match ended in the 1-1 draw.
The tie ends UCI's brief two-match losing streak.
Maddie Newsom matched a season high stopping six shots. Carly Nelson for Utah made four saves.
Kala McDaniel's goal marked the first goal and point of her career as well as the first tally for UC Irvine this year.
Alex Karlowitsch led the squad with a pair of shots as she cracked the starting XI for the first time this year.
Utah finished with a 13-9 shot advantage while UCI earned two of the three corner kicks as well as 15 of the 21 fouls.
The 'Eaters' next match will complete its four-game homestand to begin 2018 as it kicks off at 4:00 p.m. in Anteater Stadium against Loyola Marymount.
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NOTES: McDaniel's goal is the first by a UC Irvine defender since Kelsey Texeira's tally in the 2016 Big West Tournament semifinal vs. Cal State Fullerton...
Elizabeth Hutchison became the 70th Anteater in program history with 50+ matches played after entering in the 25th minute and playing 64 minutes on the afternoon...
McKenzie Madison made her first career start Sunday...UCI is now 18-50-9 all-time against the Pac-12 Conference
