IRVINE, Calif. – Sacramento State limited No. 11 UC Irvine to just two shots on goal in a scoreless first half but the Anteaters broke through with two goals early in the second half and finished off a 2-0 win on Saturday night.

The match concluded interdivision Big West play as Sacramento State (4-7-2, 2-2-0 Big West) picked up two wins against the South division of the conference. UC Irvine (10-1-2, 2-1-1 Big West), which has been ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation this season, remained undefeated and unscored upon at home this year.

UC Irvine had just a 6-3 edge in shots in the first half and had just two shots on goal in the very competitive first period. The Anteaters ramped up the offense in the second half and totaled an 11-3 shot advantage over the final four 45 minutes while tallying goals in the 56th and 64th minutes.

The first UC Irvine score ended a streak of more than 295 minutes since redshirt freshman goalkeeper James Del Curto and the Hornets last allowed a goal. Del Curto finished with four saves as he took a loss for the first time since Sacramento State's season opener at Temple on Aug. 31. UCI backstop Michael Breslin totaled three saves for the blank sheet.

Del Curto made his first save in the ninth minute as the Anteaters opened with three shots and three corner kicks before the Hornets got their first offensive opportunities. In the 29th minute, senior Andres Garcia had a great chance denied by Breslin in what would be the Hornets only shot on goal of the half.

UC Irvine had a quick start in the second half as well and found a goal in the 56th minute. Geraldo Gonzalez and Mitchell Alvarez put two passes together and found sophomore Mario Ortiz for a finish inside the box. Eight minutes later the Anteaters doubled their lead as Noah Gaines sent a low cross for a flick into the net by senior Lester Hayes.

Del Curto made a pair of saves after UC Irvine extended its lead to 2-0. The Hornets had two shots on goal in the second half including a shot by senior Chimdum Mez rebuffed by Breslin with nine seconds left in regulation as the Anteaters completed the shutout.

Sacramento State did not have a corner kick in the game while UC Irvine had eight. Mez had three shots, placing two on goal, to lead the Hornets offensively. Both UC Irvine goals were scored by substitutes.

All seven Hornet losses this season have been shutouts while the team is 4-0-2 in games in which they have scored at least one goal.

The Hornets will host Cal Poly at 3 p.m. next Saturday at Hornet Field to open Big West North division play. The football teams from the two schools will meet at Hornet Stadium shortly thereafter at 6 p.m.