SANTA BARBARA, Calif --- UC Irvine men's soccer fought deep into overtime Saturday night at Harder Stadium, but ultimately fell, 2-1, to UC Santa Barbara in the Big West Championship Semifinal.
FEELING DOWN
The first half was strewn toward the host UC Santa Barbara (10-3-6, 4-1-4) as they had an 8-5 shot advantage. One of those shots was a perfectly-struck free kick in the 28th minute. An Anteater foul gave the Gauchos a chance from 30 yards out, and Nemo Philipp decided to go for goal and succeeded with a blast that fit into the upper right corner to make it a 1-0 UCSB lead.
SECOND TO NONE
The second half was a complete 180 as the Anteater offense dominated. UC Irvine (6-12-2, 5-3-1) crashed the goal in the 57th minute started by Francesco Montanile. He fought up the left wing fighting off a Gaucho defender before slipping a low cross onto Robert Mejia whose header was right on target into the back of the net to tie things up, 1-1.
In addition to that, the 'Eaters out-shot UCSB 12-0 in the half putting up a couple more golden opportunities, but nothing more to send the match into overtime.
FINAL SCORE / OT: UC SANTA BARBARA 2, UC IRVINE 1
The sides each had their opportunities in the first and second overtime periods before the decisive blow came in the 109th minute. The Gauchos lifted a centering pass into the box that was flicked onto an Anteater defender getting a fortunate bounce on goal and inside the left post for an own goal and the game-winner.
UCI had a final shot on goal in the final seconds, but the clock would run out with the 2-1 final. UCI's goal came from Robert Mejia, his team-leading fourth of the season helped by Francesco Montanile's fourth assist, a team high.
The 'Eaters finished with a 21-10 shot advantage including seven on frame. UCSB had just four shots on goal with just one after the first half.
UCI's season ends at Santa Barbara for a second straight season, this time in the Big West Semifinals. In UCI's 11th trip in 14 Big West Tournament, their record now stands at 11-4-4.
