IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer earned a point in the first Big West match of 2025 drawing 1-1 with UC San Diego Wednesday night in Anteater Stadium.

Perfect Timing

• The Big West opener began with both sides feeling each other out. Eight fouls and a caution before the first action from a UCSD shot in the 18th minute
• The Tritons were on the front foot with a shot off the crossbar at the 26th minute, and another on target in the 28th minute saved on a kick by Joe O'Shaughnessy
• The visitors continued to put up chances throughout the rest of the half and had a stranglehold on the stats with all six shots and 65% of the possession
• The Anteaters made their chance count with a counter attack as the seconds ticked down
  • Gage Lyons tracked down a ball in the corner and worked a cross finding Misael Gonzalez Lopez in the box
  • He made a move and flicked a shot with his off foot inside the left post for the 1-0 lead with just seven seconds remaining before the half

Fortune Telling

• After a 6-1 shot disparity in the first half, the Anteaters were determined to get the offense going
• UCSD poked the first shot that O'Shaughnessy punched aside before the 'Eaters got to work with some near misses by Hunny Yoo and Braden Ferreira
• Gage Lyons tracked down a lead pass firing a 1v1 shot from the right wing that was stopped in the 55th minute as the team's best chance to grow their lead
• Hunny Yoo followed up on the ensuing corner kick with a perfectly-placed header that landed in UCSD's goalkeeper's lap
• It took the Anteaters just 17 minutes to surpass the Tritons in the shot category and soon after that took over the time of possession finishing the match on top at 57%
• UC Irvine had so many shots they even put one in on the other end helping level the match
  • In the 59th minute, the Tritons had the ball on the wing and sent in a cross hitting one of their own as it caromed right off an Anteater played and fell across the goalline for an own goal to make it 1-1
• UCI had a majority of the chances from that point on with goalscorer Misael Gonzalez Lopez missing high after finding some space in the 72nd minute, and Travis Babineau nailed a free kick toward the upper left that was snagged by the keeper

UC Irvine 1, UC San Diego 1

• The draw earns each side a point in Big West play, the only draw on the opening night of action across the conference. UCI is 5-3-2 overall running their winless streak to four matches
• Gonzalez Lopez scored his fifth goal of the season as he continues to lead the team and regains the lead in the Big West
• Lyons' assist is the first of his collegiate career in his 40th match to go with 11 goals
  • He stands in a seven-way tie for second on the club in points as he is 1 of 6 Anteaters with one goal and one assist on the year
• UCI came away with the advantage on the stat sheet in shots (13-9) and shots on goal (5-2) as well as corners (4-3). They were also hit with three cautions to one for UCSD and 19 of the 35 fouls whistled.
• Joe O'Shaughnessy in net made two saves as the 'Eaters continue to set the bar in shots on goal allowed with 25 on the year, nine fewer than any other Big West squad. His counterpart was able to stop four Anteater shots

The week concludes Saturday night with more Big West action in Anteater Stadium hosting reigning Big West champs Cal Poly with kickoff at 6:00 p.m. The Mustangs were one of the winners in the opening night of action coming from behind for a 2-1 home victory over UC Davis

 

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