SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer was handed their first loss of 2025 in a matchup of ranked programs Wednesday night falling 2-0 at Torero Stadium against No. 23 San Diego.

Easing In Early

• Neither side wanted to show their hand too quickly in this one with a lot of feeling the other out through the first 45 minutes
• USD did get a sparkling chance, probably the best of the half, on the match's first shot in the 11th minute.
  • The Toreros won possession along the far side feeding it in as it was poked along right into Noah James' path, but his attempt from 10 yards went high keeping things scoreless
• UC Irvine had a pivotal injury to center back Gustavo Gonzalez as he exited in the 20th minute and did not return to the match.
• That was the end of any real major threats ahead of the haltime whistle. There were just four shots made as the 'Eaters had one blocked in the last action of the half for their only attempt

Making The Most

• Play began to open up with 45 minutes left to play and either side putting up shots that would just miss
• Marcus Lee put the first shot on target for either team in the 53rd minute that was stopped at USD's keeper's feet
• The silence was broken in the 72nd minute as the Toreros set up for a corner kick
  • Josh Martinez snapped the ball right to the goalmouth for the waiting Godwin Antwi unmarked to head it in for the 1-0 USD lead
• The Anteaters went on the front foot looking for the equalizer. Lee and Brady Treinen each had goes at goal missing high as the Torero defense made life tough for UC Irvine
• With numbers forward, USD gained possession and shot out on an odd-man advantage as play went into the 90th minute leading to Devin Zachry beating his defender and sliding a shot by Joe O'Shaughnessy between the near post to cement a 2-0 lead and win with 35 seconds left in the match.

#23 San Diego 2, #20 UC Irvine 0

• The loss ends UC Irvine's six-match unbeaten run to open the season in what was UCI's first away match of the season. 
• The match for UCI is the 88th all-time against a ranked opponent. It's the fifth time taking on a USD squad, and first time both teams have been ranked in a meeting
• UCI's sterling defensive stats took a hit with two goals allowed in the second half. Joe O'Shaughnessy and the squad had allowed one goal and stopped 93.3% of shots in the first 611 minutes of the season
• The 'Eaters were out-shot, 10-5, with the one shot on target and did not earn a corner kick

The Anteaters continue their road stretch with matches next week at California Baptist, Monday, September 22, and at UNLV, Friday, September 26