LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer was on the offensive Thursday night at Sullivan Field rallying its first road win of the year as it downed Loyola Marymount, 3-1.
FIRST WAVE
The Anteaters (3-2) commanded possession early helping earn the first corner kick, shot, and shot on frame of the match. They continued to push forward and were rewarded with the first goal in the 17th minute.
An errant pass fell to the 'Eaters near midfield, and
Scarlett Camberos scooped it up and shot a pass forward to
Sophie Gillies on the breakaway. She rounded the keeper off her line leaving an empty net that she would finish in for the 1-0 lead.
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The rest of the half saw Loyola Marymount (0-5) close the gap in the match in terms of possession, finished even in shots, 4-4, and held the advantage in shots, but UCI's 1-0 lead stuck.
GRABBING THE REINS
The 'Eaters snatched command of the match back early in the second half with its share of shots, and would soon double its leads in the 55th minute.
Destinee Manzo held the ball down the left wing and punted a perfect lob into the box and onto
Desiree Mendoza behind the defense finishing on her second touch with a volley in for a 2-0 lead.
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The joy subsided rather quickly as the Lions would get on the board just 38 seconds later. A foul right inside the edge of the box put Makiya Christensen at the spot for a penalty. 'Eater keeper Glo Hinohosa guessed right, but could not keep the shot out cutting the UCI lead back to 2-1.
That would be the only shot of the half for LMU, however, as the 'Eaters forged on with 13 of the 14 shots of the half firing five more on target adding a third goal in the 82nd minute.
A free kick just inside UCI's offensive half was lofted into the box and immediately returned, but
Maddy Chavez volleyed it back toward goal and a trio of Anteaters behind the Lion defense.
Alyssa Moore earned the glory gathering and firing past LMU keeper Kendyll Humphreys for a 3-1 score.
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FINAL SCORE: UC IRVINE 3, LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
The win for UCI is its first on the road in 2021 also giving the squad a winning record for the first time in the season. Hinojosa has now accounted for all three wins on the year, and collected one save on the night.
The goalscorers began with Gillies, now three on the year to continue to lead the team in goals and with eight points, Mendoza, the first goal and point of her career accounting for the game-winner, and Moore, her second now with six points on the year.
Each goal had an assist starting with Camberos on the opener for her second of the season,
Destinee Manzo supplied the second, her second straight match with an assist and fourth assist of her career, and
Maddy Chavez's assist on the closer served as the first points of her career.
ON TO SUNDAY
The 'Eaters continue the week Sunday night with another Big West non-conference matchup on the slate hosting Cal State Fullerton at 6:00 p.m. The 'Eaters now enter with a two-game win streak and also are unbeaten in six straight home matches with wins in the last three.
