SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer played a spirited match Wednesday night at UC Santa Barbara and Harder Stadium to a 1-1 draw.
OFF AND RUNNING
Wednesday night's match began with the Gauchos (6-3-3, 2-0-1) on the attack with the first two shots and corner kicks. The second corner led to the match's opening goal.
After swinging it into the box, it popped back out to Ameyawu Muntari who flicked it back across the box to an open Thaabit Baartman whose volley went off keeper
Gordon Botterill and into the roof of the net for a 1-0 UCSB lead in the 11th minute.
The Anteaters (3-7-2, 1-1-1) began to flex their offensive skills on the attack for most of the remainder of the half.
Beto Alvarenga had a sparkling chance right after the goal putting free kick toward the upper left that was saved on a dive by Leroy Zeller. The match carried into the half still at 1-0 with shots even at 7-7.
BY ANY MEANS
The second half was end-to-end with each attack creating multiple chances.
UCSBÂ had a flurry of corner kicks early, part of their 10 on the match, but Botterill was keen to it saving a pair in the first four minutes.
The Anteaters looked for any chance to draw level even twice hitting the woodwork. A cross got a flick up over the keeper hitting the crossbar, and the rebound found
Axel Adler whose shot was swatted away in the 51st minute. Means found the post once again the 65th minute as it careened off the near post and off Zeller's head, but landing in the goalmouth to be cleared and keep it a 1-0 deficit.
Means wouldn't miss when it counted. The clock was running down the seconds with under 30 left in regulation. A failed clearance landed to
Oscar Cervantes along the left sideline. He floated a cross toward goal and found a leaping Means whose header sailed along, off the post, and this time in for the tying strike with 15 seconds left in regulation making it 1-1 and sending the match to overtime.
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FINAL SCORE: UC IRVINE 1, UC SANTA BARBARA 1
Both overtime periods had their opportunities as the sides mirrored each other in shots for all four periods on the night finishing with 18 a side.
Gordon Botterill stood tall in his first match since leaving early against UNLV and adding six saves on the night. UCSB's Zeller matched him stopping seven.
The 'Eaters remained unbeaten against the Gauchos under head coach
Yossi Raz now 1-0-3 since 2017.
"In the Big West, every game has it's own personality," coach Raz said of the dynamic-yet-even play Wednesday night. "Each team brings a unique set of challenges. We feel like that last couple matches, we've shown growth. We came from behind twice at Sacramento and survived today. We fought back, and in our locker room, there's clear moments that we need to improve and mature in. We are aware of it, we are conscientious and keep working hard towards developing, but in a word, we are happy to get points on the road in a tough environment."
The goal from Means is his second of the season and first Big West points. Cervantes provided the assist for his first points of the season, and he's now contributed to decisive goals in consecutive matches at Harder Stadium.
FIELD PRESENCE
The 'Eaters return home for their next match with a 1-1-1 mark and four points in Big West play. On the horizon is Cal Poly, whom sits tied atop the conference at 2-0-1 after a 1-0 win over UC San Diego Wednesday night. The match kicks off at 7:00 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.
