LA JOLLA, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer played through the rain with a furious first-half comeback for a vital point drawing with UC San Diego, 2-2, Saturday night at Triton Soccer Stadium.
The first 10 minutes of the match are something the 'Eaters would like to have back surrendering two goals.
- In the ninth minute, the Tritons fought to save the ball along the right sideline, and got some lucky deflections before driving to goal. A cross bounded in and around traffic falling to Max Carvalho who slammed home a half-volley for the 1-0 UCSD lead
- Under two minutes later, the Tritons were in on goal again as a chip ahead over the backline found Andrew Valverde who chipped Luke Pruter out to challenge settling it just across the line for a 2-0 lead in the 11th minute
The Anteaters got to work hunting for the first goal to climb back into the match as the rain began to fall, and found something in the 24th minute.
- A corner kick was whistled in that UCSD got a head to and the free ball bounced toward Samuel Atiye who cracked a long drive off the keeper and crossbar sending it high into the air. It fell right back to Atiye who chipped it through the defense to an open Agaton Pourshahidi who gathered and sent a blind strike into the back of the net to make it a 2-1 game
- UCI got its equalizer in the final five minutes of the half with Atiye doing the dirty work again. This time his long-range missile was true finding the upper right corner to tie things up at 2-2 in the 41st minute.
The furious Anteater surge gave them the upper hand on the halftime stat sheet with 11 shots to five, and all four shots on goal went in between the sides. The second half was both teams driving through the rain looking for another goal to clinch postseason life. The Tritons roared back with 12 shots in the second half as the sides finished with 17 each, but two big saves from
Luke Pruter including one on a leap with 30 seconds left in the match secured the draw and berth-clinching point.
Samuel Atiye engineered both goals for the Anteaters finishing with one goal to his name and an assist. The goal is his first of the season and fifth of his career to go with his sixth career assist.
The first goal went to Pourshahidi giving him seven on the year and 16 points, both leading the squad, and now 11 career goals in tonight his 50th match.
Pruter came up with two big saves to help score a draw. The defense put together a solid effort after the first 10 minutes allowing one corner kick in the match as they were without sixth-year
Mario Anaya serving a suspension following his red card last Saturday. The 'Eaters left it all out on the field being issued 18 fouls to just six committed by the Tritons.
UC Irvine's point was enough to not only get them in the Big West Championship, but secure a home game to open up play in the First Round. The Anteaters finished in a tie for third place and scored the 3-seed through tiebreakers as they'll host their opening matchup in Anteater Stadium, Wednesday, November 6, with the opponent Cal State Fullerton.
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