Men’s Soccer: ‘Eaters defeat Aggies
Nine different men’s soccer players have contributed to UC Irvine’s balanced scoring attack this season. But, on balance, there are two Anteaters whose increasing point totals are earning them clear consideration as a prolific pair.
Lalo Calzada, a junior transfer from Cal State Bakersfield, and Gor Kirakosyan, a fifth-year senior who sat out last season after reconstructive knee surgery, once again validated their status as UCI’s most consistent catalysts by combining for the only goal in a Big West Conference victory over previously unbeaten UC Davis on Thursday at Anteater Stadium.
The scoring sequence, in the 35th minute, began with Calzada, who dished a short pass from the wing to Kirakosyan near the top of the box. Kirakosyan immediately rolled a pass back to Calzada who had darted behind the defense. Without so much as a dribble, Calzada popped the ball past charging Aggies goalkeeper Armando Quezada to end the longest unbeaten streak in UC Davis’ Division I history.
The unranked Aggies, who along with UC Santa Barbara were the only Big West teams to open conference play 2-0 last week, were 4-0-7 coming into Thursday’s clash. No. 3-ranked Penn State was the only unbeaten team in the top 25 entering this week.
It was only the second home game in more than a month for UCI (9-1-2, 1-1-1 in conference), which opened the campaign at Anteater Stadium on Aug. 31, then played nine of its next 10 after getting off a bus. Its lone home date during that stretch was played across campus, due to the damaged playing surface at the ‘Eaters’ more familiar home haunt.
“It’s good to be home,” UCI Coach Chris Volk said. “I thought we started well, but I didn’t think we ended well, other than closing out the game. There were a couple dodgy moments there at the end. It doesn’t take too long to let a team back in the game and our decision-making has to be better late in the game to close out teams.”
The No. 11-ranked Anteaters bounced back from their first defeat of the season, a heart-breaking 1-0 verdict on a goal in the final minute on Saturday at UCSB.
It was the team-leading sixth goal of the season for Calzada, who came in tied with Kirakosyan in that department. Calzada and Kirakosyan had also shared the team lead in points (12), before Calzada’s tally gave him 14, one ahead of Kirakosyan, who netted a point for the assist.
Junior Dennis Martinez is the only other UCI attacker with more than two goals, having scored four times and added one assist.
“Gor and Lalo hooked up again,” Volk said. “They were a little bit off form during our Central Coast trip. They couldn’t find each other [In a 1-1 tie at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and at UCSB]. But tonight they linked up and it ended up being the game-winner.”
The UCI defense also did its part, despite missing starting defensive midfielder Michael Sperber (a mandatory one-game suspension due to five accumulated yellow cards) and starting defenders Matthew Tilley (sprained ankle) and Bryan Breslin (concussion).
Junior goalkeeper Michael Breslin made four saves to record his third clean sheet of the season, only the third time the Aggies, who played seven straight overtime games to close out nonconference play, had been held scoreless this season.
Junior Daniel Coates, stepping into one of two aforementioned voids in the back line, stood out for the winners, who also received solid defensive work from starting fullbacks Thomas Janjigian, Jack Birkenbeuel and Noah Gaines.
Kirakosyan matched senior Cameron Iwasa with three shots apiece, as the Anteaters totaled just seven, three fewer than the Aggies.
Iwasa had a pair of promising chances, but Quezada left his line to save one at point-blank range and Iwasa, facing a tough angle after maneuvering past a defender, caromed another shot off the near post to keep things close.
UC Davis had seven players take shots, including senior defender Brian Ford, who starred at Corona del Mar High.
The Anteaters withstood a late barrage from the Aggies.
“They started throwing players up top and we kind of had to sit and defend in the box,” Calzada said. “I was having a bad game, but I came through. Gor gave me an assist, so it’s a credit to him, too. Gor is good at finding spaces [to pass or dribble into] and, with composure, I was able to finish.”
UCI plays host to Sacramento State on Saturday at 7 p.m., before battling former coach George Kuntz, who will lead Cal State Fullerton into Anteater Stadium on Oct. 18.