IRVINE, Calif. --- A late second-half strike from the visiting Toreros dropped UC Irvine, 1-0, Thursday night in Anteater Stadium.

HOLDING THE LINE
The first half was a defensive dream between UCI (3-2-1) and USD (2-3-2). A total of seven shots with no on target.

The best chance from either side came in the 14th minute with Sophie Gillies starting the break. Her shot inside the six-yard box was blocked right to a charging Tati Fung whose 15-yard shot just missed over the near post. Jenika Davis added a sharp try near the end of the half, but despite a 4-3 shot advantage, the 'Eaters were level with the Toreros.

MAKING IT WORK
The sides began to pepper the keepers in the second half starting with a low shot swallowed up by Glo Hinojosa in the 56th minute.

The Anteaters countered with chances by Gillies from the top of the box smothered, Fung again sailing a shot over the post, and Lilli Rask putting a brilliant shot up curling away from just outside the box, but a huge leaping save by USD keeper Sophine Kevorkian denied the match's first goal.

USD's good fortune made its way to the other end in the 78th minute. A smart run up the right win by Sara Evans put them in position and her cross landed just at the edge of the six-yard box. A pileup on the ball included multiple Anteaters and Torero Josefine Schlicting, and it was Schlichting who got a toe on it kicking it by the defenders and through a charging Hinojosa to make it 1-0, USD.

FINAL SCORE: SAN DIEGO 1, UC IRVINE 0
The Toreros spoil the 'Eaters hopes after UCI took a match off them in an exhibition this year. USD has now won the matchup in consecutive years going up 13-9-1 in the all-time series.

Hinojosa didn't see a ton of work in net saving one as San Diego only recorded six shots to UCI's 11. Gillies, Fung, and Desiree Mendoza each had a pair of shots for UCI. The sides were even with 10 fouls each while USD earned a few late corners to take the 4-2 edge there.

The 'Eaters fall for the first time in Anteater Stadium this season and snap a string of eight in a row unbeaten at home. Amber Huff's encapsulated the team's performance.

"I think we did well possessing the ball when we needed to. I think our balls in the final third need a little work. We did what we could with what we had, but we just need to continue to build our structure and improve as a team overall. We can always get better after a loss. Going over the film, seeing what we need to do to connect better, what we need to do to transition and defend better."

UCI's next chance to defend their home turf won't be until September 25, a Sunday evening against CSU Bakersfield well in the midst of Big West play. Next up is another Big West opponent with a trip to CSUN, Sunday, September 11, in a non-conference affair and the Matadors coming off a loss of their own tonight - 2-0 at home to USC.