'Eaters Drop Non-Conference Finale to UCLA

Saturday, September 23

Irvine, Calif.

6:00 PM

UC Irvine

3-3-2, 0-0-0

UCLA

3-2-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
UCLA	0	4	4
UC Irvine	0	0	0

Photo by: Robert Huskey

'Eaters Drop Non-Conference Finale to UCLA

September 23, 2023 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Alex Roberts-Croteau

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer dropped its final non-conference match in Anteater Stadium Saturday night to the visiting UCLA Bruins, 4-0.

UCLA 4, UC IRVINE 0

For the second time in its last three home matches, UC Irvine's community showed out with over 1,000 fans clocking in at 1,145 fans in Anteater Stadium Saturday night.
The fans were treated to a competitive first half with both defenses keeping the match scoreless.
The first shot of the match was a clever save from Luke Pruter, and he made a higher difficulty play to stop a shot in the 45th minute to keep things even into the break
UCI was out-shot in the first half, 7-2, but turned one of its chances on target by Agaton Pourshahidi
The Bruins came out of the half on the attack and it paid off with a goal in the 47th minute. A box whipped into the six-yard box was taken by Andre Ochoa who managed to stay onside and flick a shot passed Pruter for the 1-0 lead to UCLA.
The advantage doubled in the 56th minute as a long service from Owen Schwartz hit Tucker Lepley whose cross hit Jack Sarkos who rolled it across the line to take a 2-0 lead
The Bruins went up 3-0 from the penalty spot as a foul along the left wing put Lepley on the spot to converted in the 60th minute
The final blow came in the 89th minute as a sideline cross from JC Cortez found Sean Karani in the middle of the box with a spectacular half volley shot that had no chance to be stopped making it 4-0, Bruins.
Luke Pruter stood on his head making six saves with over half of them top class to keep the 'Eaters in the match. He was assisted by his backline on a seventh save as the 'Eaters were out-shot on the night, 19-7
UCI had prime chances to pull goals back including Juan Barragan-Manzo who missed just wide on a pair of occasions, and a header chance by Josh Kenworthy off a corner kick service that just skimmed the top of the crossbar
The Anteaters were at a disadvantage being flagged for 15 fouls to six for UCLA and drawing four of the five cautions in the match

Quick reflexes from Pruter to deny the Bruins #RipEm pic.twitter.com/Dit8SwxOTD
— UCI Men's Soccer (@UCImsoc) September 24, 2023

Agaton close to UCI's first #TWZ pic.twitter.com/VaSv8QWAEK
— UCI Men's Soccer (@UCImsoc) September 24, 2023

Another save from Pruter to deny UCLA #RipEm pic.twitter.com/LKjXAkbxWI
— UCI Men's Soccer (@UCImsoc) September 24, 2023

Another huge save by Pruter before the half! #RipEm pic.twitter.com/D2kgYJ2kk5
— UCI Men's Soccer (@UCImsoc) September 24, 2023

The 'Eaters finish non-conference at an even 3-3-2 while UCLA goes up to 3-2-1. UCI is winless in its last four matches and have not scored in its last three. Big West action gets going on Wednesday, September 27 with another match in Anteater Stadium as UC Irvine welcomes in the 2022 Big West champions, UC Riverside, for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff