IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer starts their Big West campaign with its second straight draw after a 2-2 tie Thursday night in Anteater Stadium against UC Santa Barbara.
UC IRVINE 2, UC SANTA BARBARA 2
- The match kicked off in front of 1,025 fans in Anteater Stadium, the second crowd of over 1,000 on the season
- UCI's attack led the way with the first half with the match's first eight shots and all four corners
- UCI kicked off the scoring in a bizarre way in the 35th minute. Lilli Rask punted a cross toward the near post that was caught by UCSB keeper Taylor Little, but as she landed stepped on the goal standard and dropped the ball back in play right to the feet of Emilie Castagna who tapped it in the goal. Both teams and the entire stadium paused to assess what happened as the official pointed for a good goal and 1-0 Anteater lead.
- Little had to leave the game being replaced by substitute Maddie Buckley who was immediately tested. The 'Eaters flew up the right wing as Emilie Castagna fed Marissa LeVine from the touchline. LeVine centered to an open Erin Covey who sent a chip shot up and over Buckley and under the bar to make it a 2-0 UCI lead in the 38th minute.
- The Gauchos nearly cut into the lead as the half wound down with a Jordan DeGidio lob shot from distance and plinked off the far post and out keeping the match 2-0 at the half
- UCSB had a prime opportunity to started the second half with a cross played right on the doorstep that was shanked just wide of the post.
- The Gauchos pulled a goal back early in the second half as a turnover led to a breakout started by Lauren Helwig feeding Olivia Howard whose shot from the top of the box beat Glo Hinojosa to her left for a 2-1 game in the 65th minute
- The crushing blow came in the 85th minute with the 'Eaters trying to tick the time down. The Gauchos gathered the ball along the left wing with Samantha Christie feeding to DeGidio who didn't miss this time dotting a shot into the upper right for a equalizer making it 2-2
- Castagna finished the match with a goal and an assist as she's now second on the team in points this year following the first three-point match of her career
- Covey's goal is her second this season and fifth as an AnteaterÂ
- The final point of the night came from Marissa LeVine with an assist for the first assist and point of her career
- Glo Hinojosa made one save in goal matching Buckley for UCSB on the other end
- Milestone on the evening for Lilli Rask playing in her 50th match as an Anteater, 65th in her collegiate career, becoming the 97th Anteater to reach 50
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The draw gives each side a point, the first for UCSB this year who is now 2-3-6 overall and 0-1-1 in Big West play. The Anteaters now stand 3-4-3 overall and 0-0-2 in Big West with two points. UCI stands alone in fourth place in the standings with its two points looking up at first place Hawai'i with four and Cal Poly and UC Riverside each with three.
The Anteaters are now off for 10 days and away from Anteater Stadium for 17. UCI heads to Hawai'i for its next match, Sunday, October 1, and will be home next on October 8 to host Cal Poly.
