Anteaters Drop Match at Washington State, 2-0

Thursday, August 27

Pullman, Wash.

6:00 PM

UC Irvine

0-2-1, 0-0-0

Washington State

2-2-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
UC Irvine	0	0	0
Washington St.	0	2	2

Olivia Stark dribbles through the midfield in a match vs. Utah Tech in 2026

Photo by: Jillian Leslie | UC Irvine Athletics

Anteaters Drop Match at Washington State, 2-0

August 27, 2026 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Alex Roberts-Croteau

PULLMAN, Wash. --- UC Irvine women's soccer battled in the Pacific Northwest against Washington State before two late goals gave the hosts a 2-0 victory Thursday night at Lower Soccer Field.

Action Packed

The first half did not feature any goals, but plenty of chances on either side with each putting up nine shots
The 'Eaters had a glorious chance in the opening minutes with a turnover that gave Clara Samson the ball and shooting around the oncoming keeper. Her first shot hit the goalpost with the rebound falling to UCI's Chifumi Sasaki who was denied by a Cougar defender to keep things scoreless
Washington State responded with a chance in the fifth minute that Savanna Arruda leapt to keep out.
Arruda continued to stand tall with saves in the 16th and 24th minutes
The 16th minute featured a sequence in UCI's 18-yard box with a potential penalty. The officials went to VAR after a WSU challenge with no penalty confirmed.
The 18 combined shots were fast and furious with no more than seven minutes between shots through the first half

Down The Road

The Cougars kept the pressure up with a corner early in the half as they earned nine in the match.
The chances were much fewer out of the break with one shot in the first 15 minutes
Washington State broke past the Anteater backline in the 74th minute with Arruda challenging and saving consecutive shots
The breakthrough goal came in the 84th minute after earning their ninth corner kick
- A cross came in from near the corner flag that dropped to Lexi Lee on the left side of the goal and she pounced and fired inside the far post from close-range to make it 1-0, WSU
UCI responded well with pressure in their attacking end
- A long throw-in in the 86th minute fell into the box that led to a VAR review for a potential handball which did not show through
- A final chance came in the 89th minute with a scramble in the box that reached Mimi Dominguez whose shot just veered wide
With numbers forward for the 'Eaters, the Cougars countered on a breakaway and got a second goal through in the final minute for the 2-0 dagger

Washington State 2, UC Irvine 0

Savanna Arruda battled through 90 minutes recording five saves
The Anteaters finished with 52% possession on the match while finishing down on shots, 18-13

The Anteaters are back home for a 1:00 p.m. match Sunday, August 30 vs. Grand Canyon