'Eaters Slow Hawai'i's Streak with 0-0 Draw

Sunday, October 13

Irvine, Calif.

6:00 PM

UC Irvine

4-6-4, 2-2-2

Hawai'i

9-6-1, 5-0-1

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

Photo by: Jacob Thompson

'Eaters Slow Hawai'i's Streak with 0-0 Draw

October 13, 2024 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Alex Roberts-Croteau

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer played to a 0-0 stalemate in Anteater Stadium Sunday night against the Big West leaders, Hawai'i.

The match from whistle to whistle was even throughout as each defense had the other offense's number snuffing out attack after attack.

The first half was very calculated with two shots for either side and one on target. UCI came out with a massive possession advantage early at 76% in the first 15 minutes
The Rainbow Wahine pressured Ashley Naylor early with a shot on frame in the sixth minute, and a second shot minutes later headed just wide of the net
The Anteaters found their way with an Emilie Castagna long-range shot in the 22nd minute on target, and a corner kick later in the half as a few of their limited chances

Entering the second half of a 0-0 match, the tempo picked up an urgency was at a high from the kickoff

A fast-and-furious sequence started in the 54th minute with the Rainbow Wahine putting a pair of shots up before hitting the post with one in the 57th minute.
The 'Eaters returned fire with a big Castagna shot in the 59th minute needing a save from UH's Kennedy Justin, and a follow-up try from Castagna two minutes later
The final 30 minutes of the match featured very few better chances until the final minutes. A long cross from UH in the 88th minute bounded off the crossbar and out. On the other end, the Anteaters drove for a last-gasp chance to Kaitlyn Paculba whose header was just long as the final seconds counted down

The 'Eaters add another point in Big West play with eight now in six matches. The draw ends Hawai'i's seven-match winning streak while thwarting their perfect Big West record at 5-0-1; the best-such streak to open Big West play since the 'Eaters' perfect 8-0-0 record in 2010.

UC Irvine allowed just one shot on goal in the match to keep their season total at 57, lowest in the Big West. The Anteaters also had the slight 4-3 edge in corner kicks and committed just six fouls to 11 for the Rainbow Wahine.

In an even match across the scoresheet, UC Irvine came out with a 58% possession advantage and held that advantage for the full 90 minutes.

Ashley Naylor made one save as she registered her third shutout as an Anteater. UC Irvine was also without the services of their fifth-year defender Kiera Smeenge who had played 26 consecutive matches with 78 career matches to her name.

UCI stands at 4-6-4 overall and winless in their last three matches. Next up is the finale of their three-match homestand hosting Cal State Fullerton, Thursday, October 17.

Postgame Quotes with Chloe Ragon
"I feel like the result was a turning point for us. Even though we tied, it was the first time we truly put a team performance together and fought through 90 minutes did every detail like our UCI DNA is about. I think that, as a team, we still have a long way to go. Obviously, winning championships means winning games, so ties are alright, but it was good to compete as a team. We maintained our focus for 90 minutes, but still have a long way to go."

"I think we executed well, espeically the last 15 minutes. Our strategy was to find our forwards in their lanes, so I feel like we did that, we created chances, we've just got to put them away and keep pushing."