LA JOLLA, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer opened Big West play Sunday afternoon at Triton Soccer Stadium coming back with a second-half strike to finish in a 1-1 tie with UC San Diego.
A TOUCH OFF
The host Tritons (1-6-2, 0-0-1) got the festivities going with the opening goal in the 15th minute. Just one shot between the sides in the first 15 minutes as each felt out the other, but suddenly a goal as UCSD built along the right wing. A centering pass was intercepted by the Anteater defense, but the deflection landed perfectly to Triton Natalie Abel to finish firmly into the near post upper 90 for a 1-0 UCSD lead.
The Anteaters (4-3-2, 0-0-1) responded with some scoring chances directing a pair of shots on frame, but could not produce an equalizer as the match went into the half at the 1-0 scoreline.
HOME COOKING
The Tritons were the aggressors as the second half got going putting up shot after shot with five in the first 10 minutes and 10 to UCI's two at one point.
Glo Hinojosa even turned away a pair, and her backline came to the rescue once to preserve the one-goal game.
The 78th minute saw the match turn as the Anteaters moved up the field similarly to UCSDÂ in the first half. Centering passes were knocked around, and another deflection fed through to
Gianna Creighton behind the backline to poke the ball by keeper Keara Fitzgerald and across the goalline to tie it up at 1-1.
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FINAL SCORE: UC IRVINE 1, UC SAN DIEGO 1
The Anteaters continued to hold possession late in the match and had two golden opportunities to breakthrough.
Emilie Castagna dished out both chances starting with 40 seconds left in the match. A cross from the sideline found her unmarked near the left post, and her flicked-on header had the pace, but landed inches wide of the open net. Again she found herself in control off a great lead pass, and 1v1 with keeper Fitzgerald as the seconds ticked down, but Fitzgerald came up with the big save with just 10 seconds remaining to keep it a 1-1 draw.
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Each side earns a point in the Big West opener for each. UCSD still seems to have UCI's number a bit having won or drawn in the last six meetings including a 1-0-1 mark against UCI since joining the conference.
Gianna Creighton was today's savior to help pick up a point scoring her first career goal in her 48th career match, and it came in her hometown of San Diego.
Sophie Gillies joined her on the stat sheet with her first assist of the year and fourth in her career.
Hinojosa collected four saves on the afternoon including the 100th of her career. The defense added a fifth save, and despite being outshot, 17-16, the 'Eaters fired nine total shots on frame. The Anteater offense was also stunted by the 10 offside calls made against them in the match with three whistled on UC San Diego.
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Big West season rolls on with two matches next week for UC Irvine starting on the road Thursday at UC Davis before a Sunday night match in Anteater Stadium vs. CSU Bakersfield.
