IRVINE, Calif. --- A steamy Labor Day afternoon pitted UC Irvine men's soccer with Cornell out of the Ivy League in Anteater Stadium with the visitors taking the 1-0 victory.
SAVING GRACE
Early in the match, the 'Eaters and Big Red put up plenty of chances. Cornell (2-0) had the first two shots within the first 10 minutes before UCI (0-3-1) came back with responses.
Robert Mejia got a crack in from the left wing needing Cornell keeper Ryan Friedberg and his left post to keep it out in the 19th minute.
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On the other end,
Luke Pruter came up huge on two occasions. In the 28th minute, Cornell was on the counter and a cross was lofted over to an unmarked Brandon Morales whose header found Pruter feet for a kick save. Pruter needed his reflexes in the 37th minute after a set piece was cleared straight to Morales again who ran onto a shot that Pruter gloved away through traffic leading to a scoreless first half.
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CORNERED CORNELL
The Big Red put up the early second half shots and got the scoring started in the 54th minute. A corner kick perfectly placed to the near post found Alioune Ka whose header snuck between Pruter and the post for the 1-0 lead.
The Anteaters looked for an equalizer throughout the second half with three really good chances.
Diego Otoya in the 82nd minute missed a header just wide much like
Jake Means earlier in the half.
Ashish Chattha had the best opportunity in the 82nd minute. A free kick along the sideline sailed off the crossbar leading to Otoya's return header over the bar leaving the 'Eaters scoreless for a third time this season.
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FINAL SCORE: CORNELL 1, UC IRVINE 0
Cornell finished with the advantage in shots, 13-11, and corners, 6-3.
Luke Pruter stood on his head to keep it a one-goal game recording four terrific saves. Another massive save came in the 73rd minute denying a 1v1 to keep it a one-goal match.
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The match featured firsts from
Rafael Espinoza making his first career start and the collegiate debut of
Connor Manning coming on late in the first half.
UCI's home stretch continues with two more matches this week vs. UCF on Friday and another Monday tilt, September 12 vs. Saint Mary's
