ORLANDO, Fla. --- The first goal of the 2018 season came at the perfect time from Alvaro Quezada curling home the game-winner in the 94th minute to help UC Irvine trump UCF, 1-0, Monday evening at UCF Soccer & Track and Field Complex.

In the early stages of the first overtime period, Jalani Ambrose won a ball and slipped it to Alvaro Quezada who wove down the right wing and into the box dipping a shot up and over UCF keeper Yannik Oettl for the winner ending it at 1-0 in the 94th minute.

"Alvaro has been playing confident since the season began, and clearly you can see the maturity he's gained from the offseason," noted his head coach Yossi Raz following the win. "He's a tough young man that's invested a lot of time into his craft and into getting better, and I'm happy for him his hard work paid off."

Quezada and the 'Eaters weathered a pair of lightning delays prior to the match which didn't start until 4:20 p.m. PDT, and then weathered a heavy Knights attack who put up nine shots in the first half. UCF, coming off a 24-shot, 17-corner kick output in its season opener against Penn State, had just five corner kicks on the evening including one over the final 63 minutes of the match.

UCF (1-1-0) was turned away by Greg Patenaude who put up his second straight shutout to start the season as he stopped a career high five shots on the evening. UCF had one of its best chances on its second shot of the game as Gorka Aperribay's header glanced off the crossbar. Patenaude shut down another attack in 34th minute saving an initial shot from Aperribay with the rebound by Ricardo Morales going high as the match entered halftime scoreless.

UC Irvine (1-0-1) found its offensive legs in the second half putting together some quality chances. Christian Gutierrez punted a free kick from 40 yards away on frame, and the rebound popped right to Darren Hamilton on the doorstep who redirected it just wide missing an opportunity in the 51st minute. The 'Eaters had another chance in the 68th minute after Oettl's mishit a goal kick right to Luis Leon, but Oettl would recover to knock it away before Leon could get a quality chance leading to a breakout at the other end resulting in a header just high by Noah Murphy.

"We're excited with the win. We played a quality opponent on the road in a tough environment, and we are happy with the progress we are showing."

The win puts UCI on the board for 2018 now 1-0-1 as it returns to California for its first home match on Friday, Aug. 31 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Utah Valley.

NOTES: Alvaro Quezada's goal is his third career and second game-winner...the goal was UCI's first OT winner since the infamous 1-0 defeat of No. 1 Stanford in the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament...UC Irvine's last five overtime matches had ended in ties dating back to 2015...UC Irvine had been winless in their last 12 overtime matches going 0-9-3...Greg Patenaude has stopped his last 10 shots and built a shutout streak of 271 minutes dating back to last season...Jalani Ambrose's assist and point are the first of his collegiate and Anteater careers