erin-covey-laila-el-behery-emilie-castagna-suus-de-bakker-tati-fung-lilli-rask-uci-wsoc-2023-ncaa-second-round-gonzaga
Dillon Galloway
2
Winner UC Irvine UCI (10-7-6, 3-3-4)
1
Gonzaga Gonzag (14-4-2, 6-1-1)
Winner
UC Irvine UCI
(10-7-6, 3-3-4)
2
Final
1
Gonzaga Gonzag
(14-4-2, 6-1-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UC Irvine UCI 2 0 2
Gonzaga Gonzag 1 0 1

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Alex Roberts-Croteau

Anteaters Reach Sweet Sixteen with 2-1 Win

LINCOLN, Neb. --- UC Irvine women's soccer returns to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for a second straight year toppling another regional seed in No. 8 Gonzaga, 2-1, Friday afternoon at Barbara Hibner Field in Lincoln, Nebraska.

UC IRVINE 2, [8] GONZAGA 1
  • UCI is moving on to its third appearance in the NCAA Third Round all-time and second year in a row.
  • A quick-start on offense proved well for the 'Eaters getting the scoring started in the fifth minute. A ball was cleared to Kiera Smeenge who put it right back toward goal and onto Laila El Behery who settled it and shot it lifting it over the defense and keeper but under the bar to put UC Irvine ahead, 1-0.
  • In the 17th minute, UCI was at it again after a throw in toward the touchline gave Tati Fung room to track across toward goal and slot a pass into space for Lilli Rask to slide and redirect it back on net and in for a 2-0 Anteater lead
  • The attack-minded Bulldogs began to find their rhythm and advanced on Glo Hinojosa and the back line to the tune of seven saves in the on the night
  • As the half approached, Gonzaga did find some relief and the back of the net in the 39th minute as a blocked shot landed to Katelyn Rigg whose attempt pinged off the right post and in to close it to a 2-1 game at halftime
  • Defense turned it up for the final 45 minutes even without starters Madison Goerlinger, who was injured last week, and Suus de Bakker who was taken off right before the halftime whistle. Gonzaga put up 11 of their 17 shots in the second half and turned four on frame with Glo Hinojosa snagging all of them for seven in the match and just enough to carry UC Irvine to a 2-1 win
  • Goals on the match went to Laila El Behery, her fourth of 2023 and eighth as an Anteater, and Lilli Rask saving the best time for her first goal of 2023 and first of her college career.
  • Assists wen to Tati Fung, her team-leading ninth, Suus de Bakker for her second this season and fourth all-time, and Kiera Smeenge's first of her career
  • The Anteaters move their record to 10-7-6 on the season winners of four straight and unbeaten in five. UCI moves to 6-3-2 all-time in the NCAA Championship and 2-1-1 in Second Round matches
  • UC Irvine awaits its next opponent between the winner of [5] Nebraska and Tennessee to play Sunday, November 19 at 11:00 a.m. PDT
 






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