BURLINGTON, Vt. --- In a rain-soaked evening at Vermont's Virtue Field, a late first-half strike did in the Anteaters falling 2-1 to the host Catamounts.
EARLY FIREWORKS
The match wasted no time getting spicy with the very first action resulting in a goal. Vermont (5-1-1) made its way upfield with a through ball being dished to Max Murray. His first shot was denied by
Luke Pruter in goal, but the rebound returned to Murray who finished around Pruter for the 1-0 lead in the fourth minute.
The Anteaters (0-7-1) quickly made the game level again with teamwork of their own. Well-timed passing and runs left
Ricardo Ibarra along with the ball on the right wing, and his centering pass found
Agaton Pourshahidi near the top of the box. After settling, he lofted a shot up and over the leaping Vermont keeper to tie the match up, 1-1, in the 10th minute.
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More goals seemed not far behind with Vermont tuning the post on a shot in the 19th minute.
Jake Means on the other end whipped a shot destined for the upper 90 that was turned aside in the 30th minute, but the match raged on at 1-1.
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HALF EXPECTING
The first half wound down under a minute to play and the Catamounts pressed on starting a rush with an unassuming cross high in the air. The ball fell to Alex Nagy near the center of their half, and his touch served up a ball that he took a chance on from 30 yards out. A low drive glanced off an Anteater defender and redirected over and past Pruter into the back of the net for a crushing blow right before halftime making it 2-1 Catamounts with 48 seconds left on the clock.
The second half was a long search for either another Anteater equalizer or the big strike for Vermont to put them up by two goals, but neither side could muster up what they needed. No chances really had any legs like those that showed up in the first half. Vermont had the advantage in corner kicks and shots at 7-2 each, but the 'Eaters emerged with the possession advantage at 53%.
FINAL SCORE: VERMONT 2, UC IRVINE 1
When all was said and done, the goal in the final minute of the first half was enough to secure the Catamount victory as they improve to 5-1-1. UCI finishes 0-2 on the New England road trip, and now returns home for a final non-conference matchup Thursday night vs. Loyola Marymount looking to nab a win in their last chance before Big West play.
Pruter once again put up four saves in the match giving him six performances of four or more saves in eight matches this year and eight altogether in 12 career starts.
Some new faces dotted the starting XI with second-year midfielder
Victor Sandsmark-Evensen and freshman
Nolan DiCenzo each starting their first career matches.
