IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer fought off a red card, a deficit, and double overtime to win a whirlwind battle with James Madison Sunday night in Anteater Stadium, 2-1.
The obstacles began in the 31st minute as
Darren Hamilton was sent off on a straight red card on a hard challenge putting the 'Eaters (2-1-1) a man down the rest of the way. The 'Eaters, who had six shots to that point, went into the half with all seven shots in the match including four shots on target despite the 0-0 score.
James Madison (1-2-1) took advantage of the situation and broke the scoreless draw in the 52nd minute as Peik Koskinen swung a long cross from the sideline to Aaron Ward-Baptiste at the back post who redirected a header home putting the Dukes up, 1-0.
UCI continuing charging and got a shot to knot things up just 10 minutes later earning a foul just outside the box, and
Jose Ortiz would make it count.
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His shot curled over the wall and tucked under the crossbar making it a 1-1 game in the 62nd minute.
The sides exchanged blows, but no real threats presented themselves down the final minutes of regulation forcing UCI to its third overtime match of the season.
JMU nearly jumped on an Anteater mistake early in the first period that
Greg Patenaude was able to rectify. The Dukes pounced earning all of the shots in the first overtime period, but the UC Irvine defense did not break sending the match to a second overtime.
In the second overtime period, the first chance went to the 'Eaters in their second corner kick of the match, and
Alvaro Quezada served up a cross.
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Quezada's cross found
Jose Soto in the box who would head along the ball to a wide open
Ivan Canales who left his feet to turn the game-winning shot home for the Anteaters in the 104th minute.
The win puts UCI back over the .500-mark at 2-1-1 with both wins coming in overtime. In fact, UCI remaining unbeaten (2-0-1) in overtime matches.
Ivan Canales' goal improves his career totals to 16 goals and 47 assists, both of which lead all current Anteaters. The game-winner is also the fourth of his career.
Jose Ortiz added his second goal of the season, seventh of his career. Assists to Quezada and Soto on the game-winning goal were the third and second of each player's career, respectively.
Greg Patenaude needed to make just one save to earn his fourth career victory.
The 'Eaters stay in Anteater Stadium for their next match hosting LMU Friday, September 7, at 7:00 p.m.
NOTES: Anteater freshman
Beto Alvarenga made his collegiate debut entering in the 83rd minute playing 14 minutes off the bench...UC Irvine played the final 73 minutes of the match down a man...four field players played all 104 minutes in the match, three were Anteaters -
Daniel Crisostomo,
Jose Soto, and
Victor Falck...the red card is the third for the Anteaters in their last seven matches and first straight red since Oct. 21, 2017 vs. CSUNÂ (
Christian Carrillo)...the win is the 298th in program history
