Anteaters Drop Titans in 3-1 Action-Packed Win

Saturday, October 3

Irvine, Calif.

6:00 PM

UC Irvine

5-5-1, 1-1-0

Cal State Fullerton

4-4-3, 0-1-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Cal St. Fullerton	1	0	1
UC Irvine	0	3	3

Gage Lyons and his teammates celebrate a goal vs. Oregon State in a 2026 match

Photo by: Matt Brown

Anteaters Drop Titans in 3-1 Action-Packed Win

October 03, 2026 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Alex Roberts-Croteau

IRVINE, Calif. --- A wild rivalry matchup went down in Anteater Stadium Saturday night with UC Irvine men's soccer dropping Cal State Fullerton, 3-1

Tone Setting

The match's path was determined very early on with a caution issued two minutes into the match to Cal State Fullerton
That did not hold the visitors back as they got on the scoreboard first in the 10th minute
- Alex Lugo gained possession on the left sideline and drove to goal before winding up for a shot just outside the box and beating keeper Joe O'Shaughnessy on the dive inside the far post and go up, 1-0
After a caution to UC Irvine, both teams earned cautions in the 26th minute that would alter the match's trajectory
- Gage Lyons countered up the field, and while that was happening, Marcus Lee and CSF's Lachlan Quate had a battle of their own along the sideline.
- The official issued red cards to each player. The Titans challenged the ruling and were rewarded with Quate's red downgraded to a yellow
UCI down to 10 men stayed the course and even had more of the chances as the half went on
In the 40th minute, the playing field leveled again as Quate failed to take a throw-in in a timely manner and was carded for time wasting for his second yellow of the match leading to a red card and him being sent off

Changing Course

With each team on 10 men, UCI was rejuvenated and got even on the scoreboard as well
- James Arteaga was fouled just inside the box, and he stepped up for the penalty try and converted for his first career goal to make it 1-1 in the 48th minute
Both teams now even on players and goals continued to create their chances
UCI had the best one in the 66th minute with a long feed hitting Gage Lyons in stride and found himself all alone with CSF keeper Asger Hemmer, but his low shot was turned aside to keep the match level
As the cautions continued to be issued, a third red card in the match came out in the 80th minute as a straight red to Ulises Grado of the Titans putting them at nine men
UCI took advantage just over two minutes later
- Isaiahs Gutierrez chipped a pass over the Titan defense onto Lyons' foot and by the keeper for the UCI 2-1 lead in the 82nd minute
The Titans continued to charge and create their chances with an equalizer in mind, but were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the 'Eaters added a cushion in the final minute
- Gutierrez held the ball up along the right sideline and sent a ball ahead for Cade Williams who sent it across to Lyons all by himself to nudge a shot around the keeper and make it 3-1 with 49 seconds remaining

UC Irvine 3, Cal State Fullerton 1

The match finished with 19 total fouls committed, 11 cards, eight alone to Cal State Fullerton, and three red cards out of the 11 cautions
UCI earns the win for the first time this year when allowing the opening goal. It's also the first match in which UCI has trailed heading into the half
Lyons put up a brace for the third time in his career and second with the 'Eaters
- He now has five goals this season, 10 in total as an Anteater, and 20 in his collegiate career
- Lyons also earned the game-winner, his third this year, sixth as an Anteater, and eighth in his career
Arteaga netted his first career goal on the penalty giving him four points on the season
Assists went to Gutierrez credited with two, his first two this season, and now six in his career, Braden Ferreria, connecting for his second point and assist of his season and career, and Cade Williams registering his first career assist and point
Joe O'Shaughnessy's return to net earned him his second win of the year, 13th as an Anteater, and 15th in his career
- His two saves gives him 13 this season matching Scott Williams' total as well

UCI moves to 1-1 in conference play with the three points on the night, and is overall 5-5-1 on the season. They're back home for their next match on Wednesday, October 7, kicking off at 6:00 p.m. vs. CSUN

Gage and Cade on tonight's home W vs. Cal State Fullerton #TogetherWeZot | #RipEm https://t.co/kSfZnMh0iN
— UCI Men's Soccer (@UCImsoc) October 4, 2026