Men’s Soccer: UCI falls at UCSB
What has to be one of the most arduous and productive opening stretches in collegiate soccer, ended with a bolt of lightning that prompted a somber bus ride home for the UC Irvine men’s team Saturday night.
Host UC Santa Barbara sophomore Nick DePuy drilled a 35-yard drive from the center of the field into the upper portion of the net with 37 seconds left to hand No. 3-ranked UCI its first defeat of the season in a Big West Conference match in front of 4,731 at Harder Stadium.
In the ninth game away from home in the last 10 contests, and the ninth road date in 11 road matches this season, the Anteaters had 10 of the game’s 18 shots, including some dangerous chances.
But Gauchos freshman goalkeeper Brandon Burke, making just his third start, had five of the game’s seven saves, including one remarkable reactive stop of a Dennis Martinez drive in the 69th minute on his way to handing UCI its first blanking of the campaign.
“It was a lightning-bolt strike at the end, definitely,” UCI first-year coach Chris Volk said of DePuy’s goal, his team-leading fourth of the season. “I think each team was looking for that opportunity to close the game out and we had our moments. I thought we had the better chances in the game. But when you leave it to a second opportunity … which is what they took tonight. Credit Santa Barbara for sticking with it and giving that great individual effort and a great shot.
“This is a bitter pill to swallow for the boys right now,” Volk said. “But to come out these 11 games and be it 8-1-2, I’m very proud of our group.”
Martinez came off the bench to account for four of the Anteaters’ shots. Senior forward Gor Kirakosyan, the Big West Offensive Player of the Week the last two weeks, had two shots for the visitors, for whom senior Cameron Iwasa also stirred things up in the final third.
“[Martinez] had a great look, and the goalkeeper matched it with a great save,” Volk said. “You have to give credit to [Burke] for making save.”
Defensively, junior goalkeeper Michael Breslin had two saves, while back-liners Jack Birkenbeuel, Matthew Tilley and Thomas Janjigian, as well as defensive midfielder Michael Sperber continually thwarted UCSB attacks.
In the 74th minute, UCSB forward Reed McKenna appeared to bend a dribbling shot around Breslin and inside the far post. But the Gauchos were called for offsides on the play and deadlock remained.
The UCSB crowd let go another loud, collective groan in the 74th minute, when Drew Murphy walked in unchallenged about 13 yards in front, before uncorking a low drive toward the far post that sailed just wide of frame.
It was battle much like recent meetings between the two Big West powers, who had split their previous 10 contests, with UCSB posting a 13-12 scoring advantage during the stretch. Five of the previous seven meetings had gone to overtime, where Saturday’s clash was headed until DePuy connected.
The Anteaters, who took five of the game’s six shots in the opening half, fell to 0-1-1 in conference, while UCSB, the reigning Big West champion, is now 6-3-1, 2-0.
“We’re going home now, but the confines of home don’t make the conference any easier,” Volk said. “Because now we face UC Davis on Thursday and Davis opened up 2-0 [in conference].”