SACRAMENTO, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer got a big second-half boost with
Agaton Pourshahidi driving a 2-0 win at Hornet Field over Sacramento State with a pair of goals.
UC IRVINE 2, SACRAMENTO STATE 0
- The sides played to a scoreless first half with UCI garnering a majority of the chances
- The best came on a counter to Sac State's first shot on target in the 15th minute. Up the near sideline went a ball to Francesco Montanile whose crossed found Jake Means unmarked in the box who settled and fired his second touch, but keeper Mac Learned was waiting to deny the golden opportunity
- The Anteaters held the halftime edge in shots, 6-3, with two on target while almost drawing even in the rest of the stats aside from picking up the only two cautions
- The second half began with a bang in the 47th minute as a service into the box found keeper Learned who bottled the ball letting it land to Agaton Pourshahidi waiting nearby. Learned made a grab for Pourshahidi stopping him from an attempt on an open net to draw the foul and a red card
- Edgar Guerra took his spot in net as the Hornets were down to 10 men, and Pourshahidi stepped up to take the ensuing penalty burying it for a 1-0 Anteater lead
- UCI continued to test Guerra with four shots on target in the next 15 minutes, and a fifth that gave the 'Eaters some separation
- Brady Treinen played a ball from his own half sling-shotting Rafael Espinoza into the open field on a breakaway. He was tripped up as he neared the box with him, the defender, the ball, and the keeper all converging only for the ball to pop free onto a charging Pourshahidi to clean up the mess into the open net for a 2-0 Anteater led in the 65th minute
- The minutes ticked down as the Hornets began to possess in their attacking zone looking for a comeback, but could only muster a few non-threatening chances as the match ended, 2-0
- Luke Pruter has consecutive shutouts now for a second time this season making two saves on the night
- Pourshahidi has his second career brace as he takes the team lead in goals on the season with three
- UC Irvine finished with a 15-6 edge in shots with nine on frame, while also earning five corners to Sac State's two and being called for 14 fouls to 20 for the Hornets
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The win puts the Anteaters on 13 points at 4-3-1 in Big West play and go to 7-6-3 overall. Sac State was eliminated from postseason contention with the loss now at 3-10-4 overall and 0-4-4 in Big West play.
UC Irvine's regular season finale is up next on Saturday, October 28, in Anteater Stadium against UC Davis with kickoff at 7:00 p.m. and a pre-match celebration for the senior class.
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