Anteaters Topple No. 1 Cal State Fullerton in Big West Semis

Thursday, November 2

Fullerton, Calif.

7:30 PM

UC Irvine

7-7-6, 3-3-4

Cal State Fullerton

8-5-7, 6-1-3

Team	1	2	Final F
UC Irvine	0	1	1
Cal St. Fullerton	0	0	0

erin-covey-uci-wsoc-2023-big-west-cal-state-fullerton

Photo by: Matt Brown

Anteaters Topple No. 1 Cal State Fullerton in Big West Semis

November 02, 2023 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Alex Roberts-Croteau

FULLERTON, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer is back in the Big West Final for a third straight year with another upset victory defeating No. 1 Cal State Fullerton, 1-0, Thursday night in Titan Stadium.

[5] UC IRVINE 1, [1] CAL STATE FULLERTON 0

The first half leaned toward the hosts with Cal State Fullerton out-shooting the Anteaters, 11-2. Just one shot on target between the teams coming on CSF's very first shot right into the arms of Glo Hinojosa.
UC Irvine flipped the script to begin the second half being the aggressors, and it paid off.
In the 49th minute, UCI drove toward the box with a brilliant shot by Emilie Castagna tipped by a leaping Fullerton keeper and off the crossbar. The rebound floated around the penalty spot before Erin Covey barreled through and hammered into the net for the 1-0 lead.
UC Irvine's defense ruled the rest of the match allowing one Cal State Fullerton shot in the entire second half and commanding possession.
The Anteaters had multiple tries at an insurance goal with shots, four on target, and a 3-1 corner advantage
Hinojosa secured another shutout, her eighth this season needing just one save. Hinojosa secured her 34th career win, tying her for third in program history with Maddie Newsom, and her 29th career shutout puts her tied with Stephanie Boes for second in program history
Covey's goal is her third this year and first game-winner. On her career, she's totaled six and three game-winners
Earning an assist was Emilie Castagna for her third on the season and fifth as an Anteater
UC Irvine is now 6-0-1 over the last three Big West Championships and have advanced in five straight matches away from home
Gianna Creighton made her 83rd career start on the match setting the new program record previously held by Judy Christopher, Nicole Bucciarelli, and Michelle Braceros at 82. Playing in Sunday's match will tie her for the career matches played mark in program history

Glo snags an early shot #RipEm pic.twitter.com/lOTL64nKIn
— UCI Women's Soccer (@UCIwsoc) November 3, 2023

Emilie's shot is deflected and nearly sneaks in #TWZ pic.twitter.com/xunaPrjcNc
— UCI Women's Soccer (@UCIwsoc) November 3, 2023

Glo with the interception #STRONGwomen pic.twitter.com/hKtUffTsGc
— UCI Women's Soccer (@UCIwsoc) November 3, 2023

COVEYYYYYY ? It's 1-0 'Eaters in the 49th minute! #RipEm pic.twitter.com/8bSL7PmXrS
— UCI Women's Soccer (@UCIwsoc) November 3, 2023

'EATERS WIN!! 1-0 and on to the Big West Final! #STRONGwomen pic.twitter.com/KOwktHwHnl
— UCI Women's Soccer (@UCIwsoc) November 3, 2023

Making it official. See you Sunday. ????#OnlyTheBold x #TWZ x #NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/j0hr5CZq2R
— The Big West (@BigWestSports) November 3, 2023

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Next up is the Big West Final and No. 3 seed Cal Poly on Sunday, November 5; A 1:00 p.m. kickoff back in Titan Stadium for the automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament. The Anteaters can become the third team in conference to win three straight titles.