IRVINE, Calif. --- The Anteaters and Gauchos played out their rescheduled match Wednesday night in Anteater Stadium in a match that twisted and turned to a 2-2 draw.
The 2-2 draw gave UCI a crucial point to lock up a Big West Tournament berth, but in the process fell out of the running of second straight Big West regular season crown.
SLIGHT DELAY
UCI and UCSB were finally on the pitch after their initial matchup was postponed due to multiple lightning delays back on October 15. With an open date on the 26th, it was the only match going in the Big West Wednesday in the season's final week and postseason implications abound.
UC Santa Barbara (9-2-6, 4-0-4) snatched the upper hand with the first goal in the 14th minute. Neither side could find a shot until the 14th minute as the 'Eaters made a pass. The Gauchos quickly returned fire less than a minute later with some help. Keeper
Luke Pruter went out to play a ball and committed a foul in his 18-yard box to award a penalty. Finn Ballard McBride ran up with a hop-step before sliding his shot in low center to put the Gauchos on top, 1-0.
The scoring chances were few and far between the rest of the half with each side putting up a few shots. The best opportunity came for the 'Eaters (4-11-2, 4-3-1) in the 41st minute. A counter attack had the 'Eaters on the advantage.
Jake Means along the right wing sent a cross that was deflected right onto
Ricardo Ibarra crashing the box from the left wing. His shot seemed destined for the back of the net, but UCSB keeper Leroy Zeller's quick reaction saved the shot to keep UCSB's 1-0 advantage into the half.
LIGHTNING STRIKES
The second half was underway with a flurry of corner kicks and fouls with the fourth of the half for UCSB setting up UCI's first big chance.
Ashish Chattha was taken down near the top of the box and stepped up to take the proceeding set piece. His beautifully curled shot was deposited into the upper left corner to make it a 1-1 game in the 52nd minute.
UCI hardly had time to breath before the Gauchos were on the rush taking their lead back less than two minutes later. The Gauchos worked up through the midfield led by Nemo Philipp who fed ahead to Finn Ballard McBride along the right wing, and for the second time, he buried a goal to quickly go back in front, 2-1, in the 54th minute.
The Anteaters continue to press for an equalizer which came in a wild offensive sequence. As the 63rd minute came to an end, UCI was bearing down on the UCSB goal.
Robert Mejia had the first chance from the left wing drilling a shot that Zeller stopped. The rebound popped out to
Jake Means who put the ball back on frame, but Zeller was there to stop his shot. UCI retained the ball as
Mario Anaya dribbled and dodged defenders before punching a shot from the top of the box through a maze of players and in to tie the match again in the 64th minute, 2-2.
The intensity climbed for the final 25 minutes with chances on each side. Nemo Philipp had chances on target in the seconds after the Anteaters' second goal and again in the 78th minute that both needed saving by
Luke Pruter. The Anteaters pushed the envelope on the other end as well coming to a head in the 88th minute. A ball popped out to
Francesco Montanile with a clear path to goal, but was quickly closed, but the rebound him
Mathias Winum whose shot was somehow kept out by Zeller again for his eighth and final save before the final whistle blew.
FINAL SCORE: UC IRVINE 2, UC SANTA BARBARA 2
The point was bittersweet for the Anteaters earning a spot in the Big West Tournament, but in the process were taken out of the running for the Big West regular season title still three points back of UCSB with a match to go.
The standings currently stand with UCI at 13 points tied for the third position with CSUN. UCI can finish as high as second and as low as fifth with a lot still left to play out on Saturday.
UCI fought back twice for its point, just the second draw on the season, but the 'Eaters have built a three-match unbeaten streak from it.
"It shows the fight and grit that this team has," noted captain
Ashish Chattha. "We went down, brought it back, went down again, and brought it back, and it just shows that we're determined to take this team to another level."
Chattha buried the first goal for UCI, his third of the year that ties for the team lead and lifts him to second in points with seven.
"You just have to be confident. I've been training every single day for that type of shot. Stepping up at the big moment, every moment counts. I was just happy to put the team back level. Hard work pays off."
An unfortunate casualty in the match was Chattha who drew his fifth caution of the year shortly after his goal. He will now need to sit out the regular season finale at UC San Diego Saturday, but will be able to suit up for the Big West Tournament opener for UCI.
His teammate,
Mario Anaya, scored in a much different way - on the second rebound of a frantic scene through traffic, but it counts as the first goal of his career in his 36th match all-time. Anaya entered as the team's leader in assists on the year with fourth, and his six points match Montanile and
Agaton Pourshahidi for third on the team. He now stands at seven goals and 17 points in his Anteater career.
"It was bittersweet, but it all happened so quickly. Their guy came at me fast, I chipped it over his foot, and I swung and prayed for the best. Luckily, it went in, and again very bittersweet, but very happy we made the tournament."
The tournament will start Wednesday, November 2, but with still one match to play for the entire conference on Saturday, UCI still control their own destiny in seeding, hosting opportunities, and even will secure a first round bye to the semifinals with a win Saturday.
"We're going to go for the win. With that, we can play at home, and I think that's the best scenario for us."
Anaya is another Anteater teetering on card accumulation with fellow holding midfielder
Oscar Cervantes both avoiding their fifth Wednesday, but earning one Saturday would hold them out of the team's tournament opener.
The match got a little chippier as it progressed as both sides drew 18 fouls on the match. UCI came away with the 16-11 shot advantage turning 10 of their shots on frame. Pruter in net for UCI returned after an illness on Saturday to stop two shots and score the draw.
The regular season concludes as mentioned with a match at UC San Diego, Saturday, October 29. Kick-off is at 7:00 p.m. with tournament seeding and hosting possibilities in the fold for the Anteaters.
