IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer punched its ticket to the Big West Tournament on
Amber Huff's second half goal downing UC Santa Barbara, 1-0, Thursday night in Anteater Stadium.
BATTLE TESTED
The sides came together each fighting for the three remaining Big West Tournament spots. Both squads came out physical jousting for possession and position. The teams combined for 14 fouls in the first half, but no cards in search of the opening strike. UCI (12-5, 7-2) had the majority of the chances with four shots to one for UC Santa Barbara (7-8-3, 5-3-1) including a pair of shots on target. The match went into the half remaining scoreless.
POWER POINT
The match drove on in the second 45. UCSBÂ found their attacking boots giving UCI keeper
Glo Hinojosa a few real good tests that she was up to the task. The Anteaters would finally found some separation in the 66th minute.
Scarlett Camberos streaked up the right flank to the touchline feeding a pass across the box to
Amber Huff, and she poked a shot onward and inside the far post grabbing the 1-0 lead for UCI.
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Hinojosa and the defense held the lead adding an acrobatic save to complete the shutout and boost UC Irvine back into the Big West Tournament.
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FINAL SCORE: UC IRVINE 1, UC SANTA BARBARA 0
The win gives UCI a 7-2 mark in Big West play leap-frogging Long Beach State into second place now on 21 points. UCI returns to the Big West Tournament clinching a berth for the 10th time in head coach
Scott Juniper's 14 season and fourth time in the last five season.
It all sets up for a big clash Sunday at 2:00 p.m. with UC Irvine hosting Cal Poly who currently sits atop the Big West on 24 points. The Anteaters can claim a share of the Big West regular season crown with a win in that match, and would also earn the No. 1 seed and hosting responsibilities for the Big West Tournament next week.
The hero of the night was senior midfielder
Amber Huff with her first goal of 2021, second career goal, and now second game-winning adding to her dramatic winning goal she scored against Long Beach State in 2018.
Camberos added an assist for a point in her sixth straight match as she increases her team lead in assists with six and adds to her Big West points lead now at an even 30. She joins an elite group as the fifth Anteater with a 30-point season joining Natalia Ledezma, Tanya Taylor, Stephanie Rigamat, and Nicole Bucciarelli who achieved it in three seasons.
Hinojosa and the defense locked down a sixth shutout on the season saving three shots in the effort, and also lowering her Big West-leading goals-against-average.
