Creighton University
UC Irvine
Men's Soccer Falls To UC Irvine, 3-1
9/13/2019 9:58:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Ziyad Fares scored Crighton's lone goal during the 57th minute
OMAHA, Neb. – The Creighton men's soccer team fell 3-1 to UC Irvine on Friday night at Morrison Stadium.
Creighton dropped to 2-2-1 on the season with the loss, while UC Irvine moved to 1-3-1 overall.
After a nearly scoreless first half, UC Irvine struck first in the 44th minute with only 1:11 remaining in the opening half. The Anteaters' Christian Gutierrez found the back of the net off a cross that slipped through the Bluejay defense to the middle of the box from Ricardo Ibarra to give UC Irvine a 1-0 lead.
The Anteaters extended their lead in the 56th minute. UC Irvine's Michael Orozco fired a shot from the top of the box to best senior goalkeeper Collin Valdivia to take a 2-0 lead.
Just 22 seconds later Creighton slipped a shot past Anteaters' goalkeeper Ford Parker to cut the lead in half. Senior Ziyad Fares fired a shot from eight yards out off a cross through the box from classmate Luke Haakenson to make the score 2-1. Senior Younes Boudadi also earned an assist on the play for his long pass from midfield.
The Anteaters found the back of the net again in the 71st minute to extend their lead to 3-1. UC Irvine's Roberto Molina fired a shot from just inside the box that slipped past Valdivia at the right post.
The Bluejays did not allow more than two goals in a single match all of last season.
UC Irvine held a slight edge in shots over the Bluejays, 14-11, while the Bluejays held an 8-3 advantage in corners. Valdivia finished the match with four saves compared to the Anteaters' three.
Creighton returns to the pitch on Monday night when crosstown foe Nebraska-Omaha meets with the Bluejays. First touch between the Bluejays and the Mavericks is set for 7 p.m. at Morrison Stadium.
