IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer went toe-to-toe with the No. 1 Stanford Cardinal Friday night in Anteater Stadium with late chances to equalize in a 2-1 defeat.
#1 STANFORD 2, UC IRVINE 1
- UCI took on the No. 1 team in the nation for the fifth time all-time and the third time in Anteater Stadium
- The 'Eaters welcomed 1,201 fans to Anteater Stadium Friday night, the ninth crowd of over 1,200 in program history and largest crowd since a 2014 Big West Tournament matchup with Cal State Fullerton
- UCI put up the first couple shots, but Stanford converted on their first in the 11th minute as a feed from the left wing found Zach Bohane who put a shot off the right post and into the back of the net to put the visitors on top, 1-0
- The Cardinal would convert on their next chance in the 21st minute as a feed to the far post was put on frame, but Luke Pruter denied it off the post. The Cardinal regrouped on the rebound and served up a golden chance to Will Reilly into the upper right to doubled the score, 2-0
- The 'Eaters had a bulk of the opportunities in the first half with Francesco Montanile from the right wing and Jake Means on a slick through ball by Samuel Atiye both making Stanford keeper Jack Morris work, and finishing with a 7-5 shot advantage
- Luke Pruter came up big with a reactive save in the 43rd minute to keep the match within reach heading into the half
- UCI continued as the aggressors in the second half in the attacking third, but were stopped before putting any prime chances on goal. The Cardinal managed just four shots themselves with none on target in the second half
- The match came back together in the final minutes as the 'Eaters earned a set piece at the edge of the attacking third. Brady Treinen lifted a cross into the box that Jake Means headed to the right post and Agaton Pourshahidi got on the end of coercing the ball across the line to make it a 2-1 deficit in the 88th minute
- The Anteaters pushed for an equalizer with chances around the 18-yard box and a booming return off a clearance in the final seconds, but it was not to be
- Pourshahidi's strike was his first point of the year, fourth goal of his career, and first since last September when he put home a brace
- Assists were from Jake Means, now with a point in three straight and the team's points leader at five, and Brady Treinen with his second career point and assist
- Luke Pruter stopped two shots on the night after his 13-save performance against the Cardinal in his freshman season in 2021
- UC Irvine finished with the advantage in shots, 11-9, and corners, 5-4, against the No. 1 team in the nation
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The loss for UCI is its first now at 3-1-1 after going unbeaten in their first four matches. It's also the first match allowing multiple goals while being the first team to come within one goal of Stanford all season. The No. 1 Cardinal move on to 4-0-0. The 'Eaters return to action in Anteater Stadium Monday, Sept. 11, kicking off at 6:00 p.m. against Saint Mary's
