Cervantes Serves Up Winner Against UC Riverside, 1-0

Wednesday, September 27

Irvine, Calif.

6:00 PM

UC Irvine

4-3-2, 1-0-0

UC Riverside

0-7-2, 0-1-0

Team	1	2	Final F
UC Riverside	0	0	0
UC Irvine	1	0	1

oscar-cervantes-uci-msoc-2023-gonzaga-ucriverside

Photo by: Robert Huskey

Cervantes Serves Up Winner Against UC Riverside, 1-0

September 27, 2023 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Alex Roberts-Croteau

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer scored a win to open Big West play as a wondergoal by Oscar Cervantes was the difference to drop UC Riverside, 1-0, Wednesday night in Anteater Stadium.

UC IRVINE 1, UC RIVERSIDE 0

The community showed out with the third attendance of over 1,000 this year in Anteater Stadium. The 1,927 fans in the stands marked the second-largest crowd in program history and most fans since UCI's first-ever postseason match in 2008, a 3-0 win over Cal Poly in the NCAA Tournament in front of 2,500.
The crowd had something to cheer about early with the match's only goal coming in the fifth minute. A service into the box was popped high into the air, and a heads-up play by Brady Treinen fed the ball back to Oscar Cervantes who gathered it, and flicked his second touch inside the far post and past the diving keeper for a 1-0 UCI lead.
UC Riverside jumped up next looking to level with a prime try that hit the post in the eighth minute.
Agaton Pourshahidi nearly doubled the advantage nudging a shot on frame that needed saving after a ball that bounded around the area in the 15th minute
The other story of the half were the cautions that were booked with the Highlanders earning three in the first half hour to UCI's one. The second half saw more issued finishing with nine in the match, five to the visitors and four for UCI.
After building a 7-3 shot advantage into the half, the 'Eaters kept on attacking finishing with 17 shots
A big turning point came in the 65th minute as UCI earned a penalty kick from a foul in the box, but Jake Means' attempt was saved by UCR keeper Carlos Gonzalez to keep it a 1-0 game
Gonzalez carried the Highlanders with multiple high-leverage saves stopping Means again on the doorstep minutes later, and twice denying Juan Barragan-Manzo with prime chances with the biggest in the 85th minute as Mario Anaya found Barragan-Manzo behind the defense who chested it down and shot it through Gonzalez's legs, but got just enough to slow it down before it was cleared away.
Luke Pruter did his part stopping all three shots on target, with the biggest in the final minute as the Highlanders sent a ball on frame from the top of the box that Pruter laid out for to save and preserve the shutout.
Pruter notches his fourth shutout of the year and eighth of his career
Cervantes' strike was his first since his freshman year in 2019. His third career goal is also his third career game-winner along with 12 career points
Assists went to Brady Treinen, his second of the season, and Juan Barragan-Manzo, the first of his career in his 25th match, and honorable mention to Ricardo Ibarra who set up the play prior

JR GOLAZO!! ? 'Eaters up 1-0 in the 5th minute #RipEm pic.twitter.com/5uxj6CVvX6
— UCI Men's Soccer (@UCImsoc) September 28, 2023

Nearly another goal, UCR backline keeps Agaton out #TWZ pic.twitter.com/vEEeNc1Xvg
— UCI Men's Soccer (@UCImsoc) September 28, 2023

Luke with the masterful stop on a great UCR chance #RipEm pic.twitter.com/0cPejq3PdX
— UCI Men's Soccer (@UCImsoc) September 28, 2023

Mario drops one on Juan with an amazing play and still somehow kept out of the net #RipEm pic.twitter.com/oVQubAQEEb
— UCI Men's Soccer (@UCImsoc) September 28, 2023

Luke full extension in the final minute!! #TWZ pic.twitter.com/GVmXUwt8yu
— UCI Men's Soccer (@UCImsoc) September 28, 2023

JR makes 'em count ? 3 career goals, 3 game-winners #HardWorkPaysOff pic.twitter.com/XHjR1IvdOR
— UCI Men's Soccer (@UCImsoc) September 28, 2023

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UCI's big win gives them three points out of the gate in Big West play, 1-0, and they go back above .500 overall, 4-3-2. UC Riverside remains winless on the season, 0-7-2, and 0-1 after one Big West match.

Next up is a tough test on the road to UC Santa Barbara, Saturday, September 30, with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff from Santa Barbara.