Box Score Oct. 9, 2014

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. -- Eduardo Calzada's sixth goal of the season midway through the first half was just enough for No. 11 UC Irvine, as the host Anteaters held off visiting UC Davis for a 1-0 Big West Conference victory on Thursday night at Anteater Stadium.

The Aggies were knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten, falling to 4-1-7 overall and 2-1 in league play, leaving Penn State as the nation's only remaining unbeaten team. UC Irvine, which also had its unbeaten season ended last weekend, improved to 9-1-2 overall and evened its conference record at 1-1-1 for the year.

Calzada's goal came in the 35th minute, working a give-and-go with teammate Gor Kirakosyan, and tucking the game-winner just inside the left post for the only score of the match. It was Calzada's team-leading sixth goal of the year.

UC Davis out-shot its hosts by a 10-7 count for the match, including a 7-2 advantage in the second half as the Aggies went in search of the equalizer. After shots by Ryan Gross and Ramon Martin Del Campo were stopped by UCI goalkeeper Michael Breslin in the 16th and 29th minutes, respectively, UC Davis unleashed five straight shots in an eight-minute span late in the second period.

Eddie Manella and Kyle Higgins each had their attempts turned away by Breslin, sandwiched around three attempts by Miguel Acevedo, Gross, and Brian Ford, that just missed their marks. Sophomore goalkeeper Armando Quezada finished with four stops against the Anteaters and got some help from the woodwork in the 85th minute as Cameron Iwasa hit the post that would have extended UC Irvine's lead to two goals.

Gross, who also missed just wide in the 89th minute as part of the Aggies' final push, shared match-high honors with three shots on the night, while helping UC Davis to a 5-3 advantage in corners for the match.

Continuing a string that sees the Aggies play four of their next five matches away from home, UC Davis closes out its Southern California roadtrip on Saturday night (Oct. 11) at 7 p.m., taking on CSUN at Matador Soccer Field in Northridge.