Duran Doubles Up UC San Diego, 2-0

Sunday, September 20

San Diego, Calif.

7:00 PM

UC Irvine

4-3-1, 0-0-0

UC San Diego

5-2-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
UC Irvine	1	1	2
UC San Diego	0	0	0

Gage Lyons battles through the Missouri State backline in a 2026 match at Anteater Stadium

Photo by: Robert Huskey

Duran Doubles Up UC San Diego, 2-0

September 20, 2026 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Alex Roberts-Croteau

LA JOLLA, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer continued its winning ways with a 2-0 road win over UC San Diego Sunday night at Triton Soccer Stadium.

Heads Above The Rest

Early on, it was a lot of play in the middle third with one lowly return shot rolling on target
The 'Eaters had a prime opportunity in the 23rd minute on a counter with a low cross destined for Zac Smuck, but not low enough as he couldn't get enough head on it and slipped it just over the bar
The 24th minute was where the 'Eaters made their mark
- A free kick along the sideline was bolted onto by Marcus Le for a sharp cross to the top of the box that Ferran Duran headed up and along bouncing it just inside the far post for a goal and 1-0 Anteater lead
The Tritons nearly had one of their own in the 29th minute with a cross that was on target, but the header flew high
The remaining quarter hour each side continued with attempts that missed the cage as UCI held onto its 1-0 advantage

Bellissimo

Early in the half, UCI almost struck gold for a second goal with a scramble in the box that Smuck eventually got a boot on, but whizzed it off the cross bar in the 50th minute
The 61st minute spelled paydirt for the Anteaters on a hasty counter attack
- A ball served up the wing for Gage Lyons put him to the races
- He was dragged and shoved as he entered the box and mustered a kick that was blocked away, but it fell into space and Duran was the benefactor putting it away for a 2-0 lead
The defense got into the act denying the Tritons at every turn
- Scott Williams made his presence known for two saves. The finest came in the 89th minute with a low-liner that had some knuckle on it with Williams successfully punching it away
UCI continued to look for more with Pierce Rizzo getting the best chance at a third shooting from 15 yards that needed a dive to shove it aside

UC Irvine 2, UC San Diego 0

The 'Eaters continue to be a team of streaks after their 2025 season that included a six-match unbeaten streak followed by a three-match losing streak back into an 11-match unbeaten streak
- In 2026, UCI went from three-match unbeaten streak to a three-match losing streak and now pushes their new streak to two consecutive wins
Duran tripled his career goal total with his first career brace and the team's first of the season
- It also goes down as his first career game-winning goal
Assists came from Marcus Lee, on the game-winner, and Gage Lyons, on the match's final goal
- Lee now has three assists tying him for the team lead
- Lyons picked up his second and pushes his team-high points total to eight
Scott Williams gets his third win and shutout of the season from two saves
- He's now picked up two wins and shutouts in a row and his shutout streak is up to 215:17
The Anteater offense putting home two goals against the Tritons is somewhat of a feat as UCSD had allowed one total goal in their prior six matches this season

UCI now improves to 4-3-1 on the season with with one more non-conference matchup where it hosts California Baptist Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6:00 p.m. before starting Big West play

THAT'S IN!! ???? Ferran (24') gets a long-range header to go!!

UC Irvine 1-0 UC San Diego #TWZ pic.twitter.com/Z7prFlghTY
— UCI Men's Soccer (@UCImsoc) September 21, 2026

FERRAN DOBLE ???????? cleans up the mess (61') on Gage's counter for the brace

UC Irvine 2-0 UC San Diego #TWZ pic.twitter.com/49a0mJ3oQt
— UCI Men's Soccer (@UCImsoc) September 21, 2026