LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- A tough assignment for UC Irvine men's soccer Sunday afternoon at Sullivan Field went to overtime before 15th-ranked Loyola Marymount snatched the win, 1-0, in overtime.
GLASS HALF FULL
The Anteaters (0-4) got on the front foot first with the offense on the attack. The match's first four shots came from UCI all in the first six minutes including
Ryan Khedoo with a pair and one needing saving.
LMU (3-0-1) found their stride and put up their chances as well. They tested
Gordon Botterill with shots on target in the 17th and 38th minutes, but nothing by him as the sides went into the half tied at 0-0 and with six shots each.
WALKING THE LINE
The Lions went on the offensive to start the second stanza with the first shot and corner. UCI responded with shots on goal from
Axel Adler and
Oscar Delgado.
LMU came back down with a scramble resulting in a diving Botterill save in the 69th minute to keep the match scoreless.
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UCI's best opportunity came minutes later in the 78th minute.
Beto Alvarenga found some space outside the box and pounded a knuckling shot that knocked the crossbar before staying out.
The defenses held the line down the stretch as the cards began to pile up with four total and three to LMU, but the match needed overtime.
FINAL SCORE / OT: #15 LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 1, UC IRVINE 0
The match needed just three-and-a-half minutes of overtime to be settled as the Lions earned a corner kick, and from that, Christian Wood would connect with Jack Sauls to net the game-winner in the 94th minute.
The match was fairly even, and the numbers showed with 15 shots to 13 for UCI, and 13 fouls for each. LMU had six of the seven corners, and put seven shots on frame that Botterill stopped six of.
Ryan Khedoo led all players with four shots on the evening
Thoughts from Head Coach Yossi Raz
"I thought the boys played well today and everyone in our locker room has seen the development process happening. We still need to grow to complete the task of beating a quality program like LMU on the road. We are getting better, need to keep our positive spirit up, and keep our head down and work. The results will come soon."
HEADING BACK HOME
The upcoming week has the 'Eaters playing twice in Anteater Stadium starting Thursday, September 9. UCI hosts Omaha at 7:30 p.m. which follows a UC Irvine women's soccer match that day. The week ends with a Sunday afternoon match against Dixie State.
