NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer returned to the win column with a hard-fought non-conference victory Monday night over CSUN, 2-1, at Matador Soccer Field.
OPENING THE DOOR
The Anteaters (4-2-1) opened the scoring after two really promising chances to start the match.
Lilli Rask fired a shot that rang off the post in the seventh minute, and that followed a chance from
Sophie Gillies that was saved in the fourth. Gillies connected soon after with a chance in the 10th minute.
Alex Jaquez and
Aislynn Crowder played off each other creating space for Jaquez. As she approached the touchline, she fed across to Gillies who slipped a shot by CSUN keeper Hayden Mauldin and the post for the 1-0 Anteater lead.
The Matadors (1-7-0) didn't let the 'Eaters waltz through the rest of the half finishing with more shots, 8-7, and testing Anteater keeper
Glo Hinojosa plenty forcing her to make four saves. The Anteaters however took the advantage into the making their one shot on target count.
MAKING A RUN
Before anyone could settle into the second half, the Anteaters were already increasing their advantage. In the 49th minute, Rask pushed the attack into CSUN's six yard box with a lob to the far post and again
Alex Jaquez. Jaquez would chip a ball back across goal to an unmarked
Desiree Mendoza sitting on the doorstep to head the ball home and open up a 2-0 lead for UC Irvine.
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CSUN kept coming led by Cindy Arteaga. After five first-half shots, she was at it again in the second 45 making Hinojosa work again. With 33 seconds left, her effort paid off earning a penalty kick from a trip in the box. Arteaga buried it to make it a 2-1 game, but UCI would salt away the final half minute and secure the win.
FINAL SCORE: UC IRVINE 2, CSUN 1
The 'Eaters have now earned wins in each of the last three meetings as they go to 4-2-1 in 2022 with one final non-conference matchup to go. Hinojosa made six stops on the night, tied for the second largest of her career.
Offensively, things ran behind
Alex Jaquez who recorded an assist on each goal. She now has three on the season, a new career high, and has posted five points over the last four matches. Additional assists were tacked on to Rask and Crowder. For Rask, it's her second as an Anteater, third in her collegiate career, and Crowder claimed her first points as an 'Eaters, fourth point in her career.
The goal scorers were a pair of third-year Anteaters in Gillies and Mendoza. Gillies put home her first of the season, and now has five in her career. Mendoza matches her freshman total at three, and claimed her fourth career game-winner.
The 'Eaters are back at it on Thursday with a trip to USC and a 3:00 p.m. matchup as the Sunday cancelation now has the Anteaters playing three times in the matter of six days.
