IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer played to its second straight scoreless draw in a return to home turf Sunday afternoon in Anteater Stadium against Northern Arizona.

Hit The Ground Running

• Sunday's match was fairly physical even with Northern Arizona committing 8 of the 9 first half subs and two cautions
• The Lumberjacks peppered Anteater keeper Savanna Arruda with three shots on goal in the first half. The 'Eaters came away with the lead in total shots, 6-5, including a solid save on a Clara Samson shot in the 30th minute
• Best chance of the half was Mia Colombini whipping a shot in from just outside the box that settled just over the bar and onto the top netting in the 32nd minute

No Quit

• The sides traded barbs as the second half began with the 'Eaters quickly closing the foul gap.
• Arruda was on her game making three more saves including another on a dive in the 83rd minute
• UCI had a few golden opportunities as well starting with a cross right to Trinity Morales in the 74th minute that she headed wide. Mirayah Villalpando also had a ball fall perfectly to her, but her header fell perfectly to NAU's keeper

UC Irvine 0, Northern Arizona 0

• UCI finishes with its third straight shutout, second straight 0-0 draw, and third 0-0 draw on the season
• The 'Eaters also up their unbeaten streak to five matches (1-0-4)
• Savanna Arruda was in goal for her first start since 2023. It was the first result and shutout of her career as she continues UCI's scoreless streak 328:03 and continue to allow just one goal in the run of play this year coming in the opener at GCU
• Arruda's six saves mark a career high as she entered the match with five saves in her entire career. The six saves are a team high so far in 2025 and ties for the most from all of 2024 achieved three times
• The 'Eaters behind in shots on the match, 11-9, while taking the corner kick advantage, 5-4, and committing less fouls (17-12) and cautions (3-1)
• A pair of Anteaters hit milestones Sunday with Mihaela Perez surpassing 5,000 career minutes, and joining her was Ivy Williams now at 2,000 career minutes

UC Irvine's Sunday match marks the beginning of their four-match home stretch that continues Thursday, September 11 with a 6:00 p.m. kickoff with Santa Clara.

Postmatch Thoughts
Mirayah Villalpando - "I think we have mixed emotions. We know that we could have come out with a win on this game, but I think the fight and the grit was there so we can be proud of that. We stayed in it, we didn't let them have a chance, and this was our third shutout in a row. Proud of the team, but obviously we're expecting a lot more. Next game, we just have to come out and put some goals in."

"When I came in today, I noticed we didn't have many chances on goal, so my biggest thing on my mind was just go forward as much as I can and try and create those chances. I definitely should have put mine away, but we just have to regroup and next time I get that chance, hopefully put it away."

Savanna Arruda - "We knew NAU would come out hard for us. Our back line had to stay strong with them, and I definitely think we stuck to what we wanted to do on the back line. I'm very happy with how we performed in that aspect, proud of us to keep a shutout. Obviously, want some goals in the back of the net so that's a little frustrating, but we take it with a grain of salt; take it as a learning opportunity for us. Learning how to perform in games under pressure like that, high-pressure situations. Great to be in goal for it, very nerve-wracking, but it's great."

"Moving forward, like I said, take this as a learning opportunity and apply it to whatever we can from this game to the next. Apply our game plan. Really excited to be back at home, the home atmosphere is always more exciting and invigorating."