IRVINE, Calif. -- Host UC Irvine scored twice in the span of two minutes midway through the first half and then stood tall to turn away a Sacramento State charge in the second half as the Anteaters posted a 2-0 shutout of the Hornets on Sunday afternoon at Anteater Stadium in Orange County.
The loss halted Sacramento State's two-match winning streak, dropping the Hornets to 2-3-1 overall on the year, while UC Irvine — the reigning Big West Conference champions — improved to 3-2-1 overall for the season.
Freshman Ellie Farber led the team with three shot attempts on the day, while both Abigail Lopez and Cassandra Herrman added two more apiece, as Sacramento State out-shot the Anteaters, 9-6, in the second half, but were able to put only three of its 12 attempts on frame for the match.
The Hornets came out firing to start, attempting three of the first four shots of the match with two of those blocked by the UCI defense and another sailing high.
Irvine then was able to break the scoreless deadlock in the 25th minute as Desiree Mendoza slotted home a pass from Erin Covey to the lower left corner from 20 yards out for the 1-0 lead.
Two minutes later, it was Laila El Behery's turn to dent the back of the net as Emilie Castagna and Tati Fung teamed up to find El Behery on the left side. El Behery then drove in to put home her shot to the lower right side from 15 yards out for the 2-0 advantage.
UC Irvine took the final three shots of the half as the Sacramento State defense settled in, blocking one attempt, notching a save from goalkeeper Izzy Palmatier on another, and getting some help from the woodwork on the third as a shot in the 44th minute clanged off the crossbar.
Herrman was the first to test Anteater goalkeeper Glo Hinokosa with a shot just three seconds into the second half, while Madelyn Dougherty and Farber had shots turned away late in the 83rd and 84th minutes.
Sacramento State will have to wait a week before returning to the field on Sunday (Sept. 14) at 1 p.m., welcoming Pacific to Hornet Soccer Field.
