DAVIS, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer got three big points on the road at UC Davis and Aggie Soccer Field by a score of 1-0.
Both teams came into the match with a loss in their Big West opener looking to not fall further behind the pack. As usual, defense was on display in a match between the 'Eaters and Aggies
- Each offense had just eight shots with UC Davis in desperation mode down the stretch adding two shots and three of their six corners in the final 10 minutes
- Luke Pruter stood tall getting his first win of the season in shutout form stopping two shots, but above-average efforts to secure the 1-0 win
- Pruter in his career earned his 17th win, 13th shutout, and raises his career saves to 153
Offense was in UC Irvine's favor through a majority of the match culminating with the match's only goal
- Marcus Lee was in the right spot in the 44th minute as Brady Treinen's cross was deflected on its way into the box landing to Lee to punch it home from the doorstep for a 1-0 UCI lead
- Shots finished even, but UCI went on a run from the 27th minute to the 88th where they outshot UC Davis, 7-2
- The Aggies' best chance came in the 22nd minute as a sharp-angle chance caught Pruter's glove on a dive, and an 'Eater and Aggie converged on the ball that popped up and glanced the crossbar before being cleared
UCI finished with the match's only two cautions picked up in the final two minutes, one for time wasting by Pruter. UC Davis doubled the Anteaters in fouls on the day, 14-7.
Marcus Lee adds his second goal of the season and first game-winner. Treinen has two assists this year and five for his career.
The win puts UCI back into the Big West mixer with three points out of six in the opening week and closer to a .500 overall record at 4-5-1. UC Davis is now an even 4-4-3 with an 0-2 Big West mark. Next up for UCI is a road midweek contest at UC Riverside before two straight home matches.
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