Thursday, August 15
Moraga, Calif.
5:00 PM
UC Irvine
1-0-0, 0-0-0
3
at
0
Saint Mary's
0-1-0, 0-0-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Saint Mary's (CA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Photo by: Vanessa Luna
New 'Eaters Propel 3-0 Win in Opener
August 15, 2024 | Women's Soccer
MORAGA, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer began 2024 with a bang scoring a 3-0 road win at Saint Mary's in Saint Mary's Stadium Thursday afternoon.
Β
Next up is a date with No. 2 Stanford on Sunday. Kickoff in Laird Q. Cagan Stadium is 1:00 p.m. on ESPN+
- About as good a start as you can have for 1 of the 2 freshmen and four newcomers in the starting lineup as Clara Samson stole a pass in the backfield and beat Saint Mary's keeper for her first career goal and the 1-0 lead 47 seconds into the match
- Another newcomer Kaitlyn Paculba made her UC Irvine debut in the 27th minute and just three minutes later settled a ball and slotted it up under the bar for a 2-0 Anteater lead in the 30th minute
- Another big play came near the end of the half as Gael Khalia Gathright fouled an 'Eater on a breakaway to deny a scoring chance and was shown a red card in the 36th minute. The ensuing free kick at the top of the box was blocked keeping it a 2-0 match into the half
- The first shot of the second half was an Anteater goal as Paculba completed a brace in the 49th minute to make it 3-0 Anteaters
- UCI's defense held on to the shutout down the final third of the match with grad transfer Ashley Naylor covering 78 minutes and third-year 'Eater Laurynn Ziller making her collegiate debut for the final 12 minutes to sew up the 3-0 shutout. Each keeper recorded one save in their debuts
- A whole host of 'Eaters made their debuts, 11 in all including four starters and two that were freshmen. Anteaters making collegiate debuts along with Samson and Ziller were starter Ivy Williams, third-year Alyssa Wheeler, second-year Kori Pickelle, and freshmen Chifumi Sasaki, Milan Heisdorf, and Hailey Clingan.
- New Anteater and grad transfer Lawson Willis earned an assist in her debut coming on Paculba's second goal
- Mia Colombini assisted to the team's second goal for her first career point
- Samson registered the game-winner in the match
- The 'Eaters held the advantage in shots (11-9), shots on goal (5-2), and corners (5-4) and committed fewer fouls (10-12)
1 minute - 1 goal!!
β UCI Women's Soccer (@UCIwsoc) August 16, 2024
Freshman Clara Samson ?????????????? nets her first career to put UCI up 47 seconds in!!
UC Irvine 1-0 Saint Mary's #TWZ pic.twitter.com/ABgkxJfpxr
Β
UCI GOAL!! ? Paculba (30') gets in her first as an 'Eater on a feed from Mia
β UCI Women's Soccer (@UCIwsoc) August 16, 2024
UC Irvine 2-0 Saint Mary's #TWZ pic.twitter.com/lKlety2aQa
Next up is a date with No. 2 Stanford on Sunday. Kickoff in Laird Q. Cagan Stadium is 1:00 p.m. on ESPN+
Team Stats
UCI
SMC
Goals
3
0
Shots
11
9
Shots on Goal
5
2
Saves
2
2
Corners
5
4
Fouls
10
12
Scoring Plays
Clara Samson (1)
GOAL by UCI Samson, Clara.
00:47
Kaitlyn Paculba (2)
Assisted By: Mia Colombini
GOAL by UCI Paculba, Kaitlyn Assist by Colombini, Mia.
29:56
Kaitlyn Paculba (2)
Assisted By: Lawson Willis
GOAL by UCI Paculba, Kaitlyn Assist by Willis, Lawson.
48:27
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerDrop your FIFA World Cup 2026 final predictions below ππ
Friday, April 03
UCI Athletics 2026 Hall of Fame Ceremony - Simone Ferrara
Monday, February 16
SUUS = SOCCER KILLA
Monday, November 17
Whatβs YOUR alarm?? β° #TogetherWeZot | #Shorts
Tuesday, October 21
