IRVINE, Calif. --- A competitive Big West matchup Sunday night in Anteater Stadium in the second rendition of UC Irvine vs. Cal State Fullerton this year resulted in a scoreless draw, 0-0.
The goalless affair wasn't without its exciting moments. The teams put up 23 shots in all with 12 of them sailing on target. The very first in the 11th minute from Cal State Fullerton's (5-4-4, 2-1-1) Kaya Hawkinson off a set piece needing a diving stop from
Glo Hinojosa to keep the goal out.
Both keepers had to be on their toes with nine of the 13 first-half shots heading on goal. UCI (5-3-5, 1-0-4) had its biggest chances in the first half with
Emilie Castagna and
Amber Huff firing bullets late in the frame. Castagna ran onto a cross from the touchline in the in the 40th minute that Titan keeper Mia Ranson had to push high. Huff followed four minutes later ripping a shot in space that Ranson gave the same treatment to to send the sides into the half knotted.
The shots kept coming with just three of the 10 second half shots finding the target, but Hinojosa and Ranson were in position. The entire backline for UCI including
Alex Jaquez,
Maddy Chavez,
Suus de Bakker, and especially
Kiera Smeenge stifled any real threats to the goal in the match.
The best chance maybe in the entire game came in the 67th minute. A through ball heading to the box was met first by Hinojosa, but her clearance attempt smacked a charging Titan forward and right in the path of another Titan with a wide open lane to goal. The defense crashed hard as
Alex Jaquez and
Maddy Chavez would not let a shot be taken before stealing it back and settling the situation.
FINAL SCORE: UC IRVINE 0, CAL STATE FULLERTON 0
- The Anteaters have now earned points in all five Big West matches, and at 1-0-4 with seven points they sit in a three-way tie for third place
- UCI is unbeaten in five straight matches this season and have gone nine straight unbeaten in Big West contests
- Glo Hinojosa and the defense posted a sixth shutout and third consecutive with an active shutout streak of 216:40
- Hinojosa's seven saves tie a career high matching her seven-save performances last year in a win at UCLA and this year in a loss at USC
- Hinojosa's goals-against-average lowered to a Big West-best 0.85 with an 0.60 mark in conference matches
- The Anteaters won the battle in the corner with a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks
UC Irvine has a bit of a break until its next action on October 9. The Sunday night contest will again be at Anteater Stadium, the second of three straight home matches, and will pit the 'Eaters against the conference's top team with 10 points and Black & Blue rival, Long Beach State.
