Naylor Saves The Day On Senior Day

Sunday, September 29

Irvine, Calif.

1:00 PM

UC Irvine

3-4-3, 1-0-1

CSUN

3-8-1, 1-1-1

Team	1	2	Final F
CSUN	1	0	1
UC Irvine	2	0	2

ashley-naylor-uci-wsoc-2024-csun-penalty

Photo by: Matt Brown

Naylor Saves The Day On Senior Day

September 29, 2024 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Alex Roberts-Croteau

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer pulled out the win Sunday on Senior Day topping CSUN, 2-1, in Anteater Stadium

The big play came in the 86th minute with a handball reviewed and awarded to CSUN putting them at the penalty spot. In a 2-1 game, keeper Ashley Naylor stepped up and made the save to keep the lead
The match went back and forth in the first half starting with UCI taking the early lead
- Mihaela Perez bombed a long lead pass up to Laila El Behery who beat her defender and snuck a shot inside the far post for a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute
- The Matadors responded in the 12th minute Kayden Perigo got loose and beat Naylor off her line to finish into an empty net and make it, 1-1
- In the 30th minute, the 'Eaters snagged the lead back setting up for a free kick. Desiree Mendoza hit a pinpoint set piece into the upper left corner from 40 yards for a majesterial 2-1 lead
The match was officiated closely with 28 fouls issued overall and four cards
- CSUN got hit with a second caution and red card to Perigo in the 62nd minute putting them down a player for the final third of the match
Mendoza gets credit for her seventh career game-winning goal as she continues to climb up the Anteater top ten
El Behery put home her 11th career goal like Mendoza and now with 25 total points
Naylor made just one huge save on the afternoon to collect her third win of the season
Mendoza, El Behery, and Naylor were among the 13 Anteater seniors recognized in a postmatch ceremony along with Chloe Ragon, Alyssa Wheeler, Aveka Singh, Aislynn Crowder, Mihaela Perez, Lawson Willis, Kiera Smeenge, Autumn Thompkins, Kaitlyn Paculba, and Suus de Bakker
Amidst all the excitement, one Anteater, Kamryn Taylor, made her collegiate debut in the match coming on as a reserve to play 18 minutes

The 'Eaters now have four Big West points in two matches and overall improve to 3-4-3. Next up is a week on the road to Cal Poly, Thursday, October 3, and Sunday, October 6 at UC Santa Barbara.

LAILA ????? runs on a beautiful ball from Mihaela and the finish (6') with the outside of the foot

UC Irvine 1-0 CSUN #TWZ pic.twitter.com/SyrVWAkoXE
— UCI Women's Soccer (@UCIwsoc) September 29, 2024