NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer took another scoreless draw into overtime, but were upended by a 98th-minute penalty sealing the win for CSUN, 1-0, Thursday night at Matador Soccer Field.
Regulation Soccer
The sides each had their moments through 90 minutes. UC Irvine (3-11-1, 2-2-1) held most of the early chances putting up the match's first four shots including
McKenzie Madison finding the crossbar in the 18th minute. The Matadors (10-4-3, 4-1-0) didn't have a shot until the 29th minute picking it up in the final 15 minutes, but did not register a shot on target as both sides went into the half scoreless.
CSUNÂ were on the attack more in the second 45 minutes firing four of their five shots on target. The 'Eaters peppered the net in the 59th minute with Amanda Delgado standing watch, and
Maddie Newsom had her own version in the 71st minute both having to knock away a corner kick in the process. The Anteater backline came up big in the 80th minute turning a shot away, as for the second straight Anteater match it would spill over into extra time scoreless.
On The Spot
The Matadors dictated the tone early in the overtime period with the first three shots needing Newsom to save two. CSUN were issued more fouls consistently throughout the match with 15 to UCI's 9, and each side picked up a card in regulation, but was UCI's lone overtime foul that was most costly.
The match turned on a simple hand ball in the box in the 98th minute putting the Matadors at the penalty spot, and Bethany Fitzsimmons would put home the decisive strike giving the Matadors the 1-0 overtime victory.
Final Score: CSUN 1, UC Irvine 0
UCI held a distinct advantage on the scoresheet until the final whistle as CSUN's goal was its 13th shot to UCI's 12 along with its sixth shot on target to five for UCI. The 'Eaters are winless in their last three now 2-2-1 in conference with seven points.
Despite the loss,
Maddie Newsom's 71st career match and 71st career start saw her reach 6,700 career minutes surpassing her coach,
Danielle de Seriere, now just under 90 minutes from the program record. Her four saves boosted her over 250 for her career, just the fourth Anteater keeper all-time, and tied her with Alicia Miller each with 253 in their careers, third-most in UCI history.
Forging On
UC Irvine's Big West title chances took a hit with the loss now five points behind CSUN and Cal State Fullerton following the 7:00 p.m. matches with three more opportunities for the 'Eaters to earn points. The Anteaters sit one point out of the top four spots in the standings as it hunts for a Big West Tournament berth making its next match, Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. in Anteater Stadium against rival Long Beach State, a make-or-break game for either side needing points to keep pace for a berth in the final regular season home match for the 'Eaters.