IRVINE, Calif. -- Host UC Irvine scored a goal in each half on Wednesday night, denting the back of the net in the 15th and 71st minutes to hand visiting Sacramento State a 2-0 defeat in the first round of the Big West Conference Tournament at Anteater Stadium.

The Hornets, qualifying for the league's postseason event for the first time since 2017 as the No. 6 seed this year, finished their season with a 9-8-2 overall record and a 4-5 mark in Big West play.

Meanwhile, the third-seeded Anteaters improved to 6-11-2 overall and advanced to meet second-seeded UC Santa Barbara on the Central Coast in the semifinals on Saturday (Nov. 5).

Diego Otoya had a goal and an assist for UC Irvine, assisting on Ashish Chattha's opener at the 14:46 mark for the 1-0 lead, then adding an insurance goal with just under 20 minutes remaining in regulation for the final 2-0 score.

Chasing a goal after halftime, Sacramento State turned up the heat in the second half, attempting seven of its nine shots after the break. Francisco Magana and Dominic Vegaalban each finished with three shot attempts, while Austin Wehner added a pair.

Goalkeeper Edgar Guerra finished with five saves while facing a barrage of 16 shots from the UC Irvine offense, collecting the second-highest total of his career.