IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer were firing on all cylinders Saturday night in Anteater Stadium getting back in the win column against Sacramento State, 1-0.
The Anteaters (2-10-1, 2-2) were on the attack from the get-go with nine shots to Sacramento State's (6-5-2, 1-3) one in the first half. UCI had few quality chances out of those nine with just two on target.
One massive opportunity came in the 32nd minute as the 'Eaters drove up the right wing. A centered ball dummied onto
Ashish Chattha parked in the middle of the box, but his shot on frame was right at the waiting keeper, Mac Learned, to thwart the golden chance.
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The second half opened up with the 'Eaters continuing to press the issue. Chattha was back with the first shot of the half, and then his seventh shot of the game in the 54th minute finally broke through.
UCI passed around the Hornet half looking to enter the attacking third.
Robert Mejia and
Mario Anaya teamed up to find
Eddy Berumen again along the wing, and his cross whipped in hip level to Chattha charging through the gap and putting a half-volley into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead in the 54th minute.
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FINAL SCORE: UC IRVINE 1, SACRAMENTO STATE 0
- Chattha registered his sixth career goal and his accounted for the Anteaters' last two goals
- It's the third game-winning goal for Chattha's career
- Chattha added eight of UCI's 16 shots outshooting the Hornets on his own, 8-7
- Assists for Berumen, his second, and Anaya, his third to tie Ricardo Ibarra for the team lead
- Luke Pruter and the defense secured the team's first shutout of 2022 breaking a string of 14 matches without a clean sheet
- Pruter stopped two shots to give him an even 50 on the season and 16 in four Big West matches. Sac State keeper Mac Learned recorded three saves
- UCI was called offside nine times compared to one for the Hornets
- Five cautions were issued - three to Sac State and two to UCI - with UCI ahead in the foul count, 17-11.
Postmatch Thoughts
Ashish Chattha - "We were able to catch a rhythm. Something we like to do is get shots on goal, put pressure on the defenders, and just by doing that even though we didn't get as many chances as we liked, I think we progressed and took a step in the right direction."
"The goal was something we have been practicing; crashing the box, our outside backs cross it as hard as they can, and it was a perfect delivery."
"This win is a good step in the right direction. We had a pretty hard non-conference, projected to be number one, but then something like today feels like a good step and showing that we're top competitors and gives us a lot of momentum to keep fighting to the end."
Mathias Winum - "We have talked about his for a long time. We try to be solid, but its always our fault on the back line. Now we talk about no mistakes, playing it easy, have a lot of pride, win all your battles, and don't let anyone past. I think we played well as a whole unit today from the strikers to the keeper."
"We have a great backline. The whole team is great, but especially our backline with four or five people who can come in and make a difference for us. It's trust the whole way, and I know whoever is going to be on the field is going to give 110%."
"We have a lot of talent and it's about utilizing it. We feel that we are being a little bit scrappy, we haven't found the chemistry, but today we showed that when we click, it's really good and we can be a force in the Big West and we're going to keep this going."
The win puts the 'Eaters right back into the conversation in the Big West with seven of the 10 Big West schools now with six or more points. UCI is back on the pitch Wednesday, October 12 heading out to UC Riverside for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
