IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer dropped a heartbreaker Thursday afternoon in Anteater Stadium allowing two second-half goals in a 2-1 loss to San Francisco.

• The sides were feeling each other out early on with no shots in the first 12 minutes. The 'Eaters had the first two including Chifumi Sasaki with a shot on target in this her first career start
• USF nearly starting the scoring with a spectacular strike in the 29th minute that Ashley Naylor just tipped off the crossbar and off the goalline and out to keep things scoreless.
• UC Irvine struck gold as the half approached thanks to Mia Colombini's individual effort on the left wing settling a high clearance, beating her defender, and lacing a shot inside the far post from the edge of the box to put the Anteaters ahead, 1-0, in the 43rd minute
• UCI looked for more with the first four shots of the second half, and a key chance by Kaitlyn Paculba that was saved
• The Dons would get the next score leveling things in the 63rd minute as a failed clearance landed to Kaitlyn Sasadeusz who took it the distance and slotted it under Naylor for a 1-1 game
• The hunt for the winner was on with few great chance in the final 25 minutes outside of Emilie Castagna hammering the crossbar in the 74th minute
• It finally came as San Francisco completed their comeback intercepting a ball in the midfield and Sasadeusz was on the run again flipping a 1v1 shot over Naylor for the 2-1 lead with just 12 seconds remaining.
• Mia Colombini shone with her first career goal and third point of the season. Mirayah Villalpando notched her first career assist on the play
• The Anteaters were unable to take advantage of a 13-6 shot advantage and 7-1 advantage in corner kicks

 

MIA!! ? Takes it on the wing and buries it (43') for her first career goal!!

UC Irvine 1-0 San Francisco #TWZ pic.twitter.com/m95Dhh9w01

— UCI Women's Soccer (@UCIwsoc) August 29, 2024

UC Irvine is back on the pitch Sunday, September 1, hosting Arizona at a 1:00 p.m. kickoff time.