SACRAMENTO, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer made a pair of comeback efforts, but fell short on the final one losing, 3-2, Saturday afternoon to hosts Sacramento State at Hornet Field.
EARLY STINGS
The matchup began back-and-forth with each side on the attack. Sacramento State (3-6-2, 1-0-1) found the first strike coming in the 24th minute.
Jhared Willcot cut into the box from the left wing and fed Francisco Magana who found some space and shot across his body by an obstructed
Luke Pruter for a goal and the 1-0 Hornet lead.
The 'Eaters (3-7-1,1-1) held most of the advantages going into the break with five shots to four and on the match's only corner, but did trail, 1-0, on the scoreboard.
SCORING SWARM
The second half began with an equalizer from UC Irvine in the 48th minute. A foul put
Beto Alvarenga on the spot as he would convert with a casual finish and make it 1-1 with nearly entire half to go.
The tie was unbroken again the 76th minute as Sac State earned a penalty of their own on a foul in the box from Pruter. His attempt went to Pruter's left which he guessed correctly, but could not keep it out making it 2-1, Hornets.
Just 58 seconds later we would get another goal and another equalizer. The Anteaters scampered down into the attacking zone, and
Axel Adler would whip a cross in from the right wing. The ball landed near the goalmouth with
Roman Warren battling with a Hornet defender for it, and Warren won out and punched it across for a 2-2 tie in the 77th minute.
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The final dagger came in the 87th minute as once again a ball through the box found a Hornet, and Christo Cervantes threaded a shot through the crowded area and inside the left post for the winning goal in the 87th minute.
FINAL SCORE: SACRAMENTO STATE 3, UC IRVINE 2
The 'Eaters drop to 1-1 in conference play after defeating UCR in the opener on Wednesday. Pruter stopped two shots in net while Hornet keeper Ryan Curtis made six saves on his side.
Both Anteater goals were their first of the season from
Beto Alvarenga and
Roman Warren. Alvarenga now has two on his career coverting his first from the spot.
Roman Warren notched his first career goal and points as he's the seventh Anteater to put away his first career goal this season and 11th different 'Eater to score the team's 15 goals.
Axel Adler added an assist, his second of the year with four in his career.
MORE BIG WEST ACTION
The conference season continues with two more matches next week. The 'Eaters begin the week at UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday, October 6, for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff before returning to Anteater Stadium on Saturday, October 9, to host Cal Poly.
