UCI (4-11-2, 4-3-1) surmounted an important 2-2 stalemate against UCSB (9-2-6, 4-0-4) at UCI’s Anteater Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 26.
Previously, UCI was in a tumultuous four-way tie with Cal State Fullerton, Sacramento State and UC San Diego. UCI’s tie against top-ranked UCSB allowed them to slightly pull ahead of the competition and snatch fourth place in the Big West conference.
In the opening minutes, the Gauchos dominated play on the pitch with immense pressure on the Anteaters’ side of the field. On a Gaucho attack, UCI sophomore goalkeeper Luke Prutercame off the goal line and tackled in an attempt to secure ball possession, causing a foul that resulted in a penalty kick. UCSB junior forward Finn Ballard McBride, with nine goals in the season, claimed the privilege to shoot the penalty and faced against Pruter, who swung to his right while the ball flew to his opposite side and into the goal. In the first 15 minutes, the Gauchos were up 1-0.
The ‘Eaters, now on the back foot, took great initiative throughout the half and generated three great shot opportunities. However, none of these netted a goal and the Gauchos insisted on slow methodical play. They didn’t create another notable goal attempt the entire half.
At minute 51, the ‘Eaters brought the ball up the field with ease. UCSB junior midfielder Sam Fletcher committed back-to-back fouls that resulted in free territory en route to the Gaucho goal line. Fletcher’s second foul on UCI senior midfielder Ashish Chattha resulted in a yellow card and a free kick a few feet behind the penalty box. Chattha curved a shot into the top left corner of the goal post and tied the score 1-1.
Two minutes after Chattha’s goal, the Gauchos retaliated. The ball started at UCSB’s goal and was passed twice before reaching Gaucho junior midfielder Nemo Philipp. He led a long and precise pass to a sprinting Ballard McBride, who won his foot race and netted his second goal of the night.
Ten minutes later, the Gauchos fumbled their ball possession in the midfield and UCI rallied four attackers against five defending the Gauchos. This culminated in a slick goal made by UCI sophomore midfielder Mario Anaya, and the score was tied yet again 2-2.
The half remained energetic and intense, especially towards the final minutes. Both teams desperately rallied and launched massive attacks, but none were able to break through each other’s defenses, and the game ended in an indecisive 2-2 stalemate.
The ‘Eaters pulled off a great stalemate and pushed into the fourth seed to possibly net an upper seed for the playoffs.
Jason Garcia Escobar is a Sports Intern for the Fall 2022 quarter. He can be reached at jasonag3@uci.edu.