Sasaki's Screamer Gives UC Irvine 1-1 Draw

Sunday, August 30

Irvine, Calif.

1:00 PM

UC Irvine

0-2-2, 0-0-0

Grand Canyon

3-1-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Grand Canyon	1	0	1
UC Irvine	0	1	1

Ariane Haysman Boaler takes the ball upfield in a 2026 match vs. Grand Canyon

Photo by: Matt Brown

Sasaki's Screamer Gives UC Irvine 1-1 Draw

August 30, 2026 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Alex Roberts-Croteau

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer finished off a hot one at Anteater Stadium with some late-game theatrics to come away with a 1-1 tie against Grand Canyon Sunday afternoon.

Grand Entrance

First half was slanted toward the visitors with five shots and corners as opposed to one shot and two corners earned by the 'Eaters
Each keeper made a slick save on firm shots with Savanna Arruda in the ninth minute and GCU following suit in the 10th minute
The goal breakthrough came in the 30th minute with a corner that was headed on goal. The save was returned off the crossbar, and that landing to Sabrina Guzman to kick it home for a 1-0 Grand Canyon advantage

Chifumi To The Rescue

Second half began with shots for either side looking for the next goal
Fiona Shin got a prime opportunity in the 63rd minute stuffed following Chifumi Sasaki's set piece
The 'Eaters were the aggressors in the half and finished with 60% possession, and it paid off in the final five minutes finding the equalizer.
- UCI drove up the midfield and made the Lopes defense work. An entry was knocked away by GCU falling to Chifumi Sasaki who gathered from 20 yards out and fired a missile into the upper right for a spectacular strike to tie things at 1-1 in the 86th minute

UC Irvine 1, Grand Canyon 1

The goal is UCI's first of the season by one of their players getting the only other in the opener on an own goal
Sasaki notches her second career goal coming unassisted Sunday
UCI finished just behind in shots, 7-6, with each side putting three on frame
- Entering the match, Grand Canyon had averaged nearly 20 shots per match
Savanna Arruda helped earn a point with a pair of saves in net
One new Anteater made an appearance Sunday with freshman Irianna Griffin coming on in the second half for her collegiate debut