SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer rang home a game-winning goal in the 95th minute of overtime to drop 12th-ranked UC Santa Barbara Saturday night at Harder Stadium.
First on the Scene
The Anteaters (6-4-5, 3-0-1) settled into the match not getting its first shot until the 38th minute, but they pounced on the first scoring opportunity.
Eder Oliva fresh into the match was fed by
Victor Falck on an odd-man rush. Oliva's shot was kept out by a Gaucho defender, but Falck found the follow-up putting it home for the match's opening goal for a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute.
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Fair Fight
The match blazed on into the second half, and continued with the physicality. UCSB (10-3-2, 3-1-0) picked up eight of nine first half fouls including a yellow, but the 'Eaters added a pair of yellows early in the second half.
The most costly Anteater foul came in the 68th minute as
Seamus McLaughlin's foul in the box put the Gauchos at the penalty spot. Thibault Candia would convert tying the match at 1-1.
Flying Colors
Regulation was filled with 34 fouls and seven cards, but no other goals would fall sending the match to overtime. UC Irvine wouldn't waste much of overtime finishing the match off as
Oscar Cervantes had the answer. Taking the ball straight up the midfield, he fired from the edge of the box finding the far post and into the goal for the game-winner in the 95th minute.
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Final Score: UC Irvine 2, #12 UC Santa Barbara 1
Cervantes' goal is the second of the freshman's career, both now coming as game-winners. The win gives UCI eight straight matches unbeaten while bumping their record to 2-1-5 in overtime contests.
The loss is a shock to No. 12 UC Santa Barbara's system who had won four straight, not lost in 11 matches, and had yet to give up a goal in their three Big West matches.
Victor Falck has his fourth career goal, all coming this year, and he retakes the team lead in points with nine.
Eder Oliva supplied the assist, his fourth this season with is the high for the team.
"I'm very pleased with a lot of the players' performances, and even more so for Oscar and Victor that they were able to showcase their talents tonight on such a big stage," praised head coach
Yossi Raz who picked up his first win against the Gauchos now 1-0-2 in his career against them.
Ford Parker outlasted UCSB keeper, Ben Roach, for the win recording one save. Roach finished with two as the 'Eaters outshot the Gauchos, 10-6.
Gaucho Notes
The win marks the seventh for UCI over a ranked UC Santa Barbara squad, and overall the 22nd against any ranked team. UCI is now 1-3-1 against ranked programs this season with tonight's match the fourth against a program in the top 12. UCI is now 12-22-4 against a top-12 opponent and 2-2 specifically against No. 12 teams.
"Going to Santa Barbara, we felt like there were a few matchups we had to solve in the game plan, but we felt confident with the tools we're bringing to the table and the schedule we had played to prepare us for the game. Ultimately, our players were extremely focused, played well, were able to execute, and ultimately prevail. I'm very proud of them for that."
The Gauchos had a four-match unbeaten streak against UCI (0-2-2) heading into the evening, and their physical play was documented with 26 fouls on the evening, 18 coming in the second half alone. Conversely, the 'Eaters were marked with nine total fouls, but did incur three of the seven total yellow cards.
Big West Picture
The result from the evening shuffles the conference standings a bit vaulting the Anteaters straight to the top with 10 out of 12 points from their first four matches. UCSBÂ dips back to second joined by UC Davis both 3-1-0 with nine points thus far.
Following the results on Saturday and the match still to be played Sunday between Cal Poly and CSUN, the 'Eaters stand three points away from securing a spot in the Big West Tournament with three conference matches yet to play.
The next test will again be on the road traveling to Cal State Fullerton Wednesday night, October 23, kicking off at 7:00 p.m.
