DAVIS, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer erased a two-goal second half deficit for a vital Big West point in a 2-2 draw Sunday afternoon at Aggie Soccer Field against UC Davis.
The host Aggies scored early to grab the momentum. An odd-man rush set up for a cross into the box with an initial shot on goal that was saved off the line by the Anteater defense, but the rebound fell to Emma Vane who finished through a pile of bodies for a 1-0 UC Davis lead in just the fourth minute.
UC Irvine pushed the envelope looking to equalize, and even owned the edge in first half possession at 58% with five shots and three testing UCD keeper Caeley Goldstein, but the score line stood at 1-0, UC Davis.
The second half did not begin to kindly either with the Aggies getting a beautiful goal over
Ashley Naylor from outside the box just 32 seconds into the half to go up 2-0.
In a match that featured a lot of physicality and cautions, it really came into play in the 60th minute.
- UC Davis' first goal scorer, Emma Vane, was carded for a second time leading to a red card ejection and putting the Aggies down to 10 players
- Just 33 seconds after the card, UCI jumped on a UC Davis mistake as a pass back to the keeper was high and Kaitlyn Paculba sped by and collected the loose ball finishing into an open net to make it a 2-1 game
- UCI wasn't done equalizing in the four minutes later as a cross bounded high in the air and eventually settled to Emilie Castagna who spun and mashed a half-volley inside the far post to tie things at 2-2
The match was level on score with 25 minutes remaining, but the 'Eaters were up a player and looking for more. The attack had a share of chances, but nothing on frame in the final stretch, and the sides finished even on shots, 10-10, despite a smattering of Aggie chances that all fell wide or into Naylor's arms as the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Naylor collected four saves with a fifth from her defense in the match. She and the 'Eaters are unbeaten in their last three (1-0-2) and have 12 points in Big West play with two matches to go.
Paculba and Castagna each knocked in their fourth goals of the season, even on eight points in second on the club. Castagna completes a three-goal week for the 'Eaters.
UC Irvine has an off date this week with the next match coming Sunday, October 27, in the home finale against rival Long Beach State kicking off at 6:00 p.m.
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