BOX SCORE | UCI PRESSER | INTERACTIVE BRACKET | NCAA HIGHLIGHTS
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — UC Irvine put an end to top-seeded, No. 2 nationally ranked, and 2022 defending National Champion UCLA's season, 1-0, in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship at Wallis Annenberg Stadium on the campus of UCLA on Friday night.
Big West champion UC Irvine improves to 9-7-6 overall. The Anteaters entered the matchup after completing the third three-peat in the Big West's history (Cal State Fullerton 2005-07 & 2013-15). During the three-year stretch, the 'Eaters have not allowed a single score (zero goals) in all eight postseason matches with graduate student goalkeeper Glo Hinojosa in net.
The 'Eaters clinched their fifth overall trip to the NCAA Tournament with this result leaving the team undefeated during the opening round (4-0-1). Overall, UC Irvine has compiled a 5-2-2 record all-time in the national tournament.
Heading into the half, both sides were held scoreless from both squads' stifling efforts on the defensive end. The Bruins blasted 10 shots in the first half of play, two of which were on frame and saved by Hinojosa.
UCI had a lone corner kick compared to UCLA's six at the half. UC Irvine put up two shots including a hard strike from redshirt senior forward Erin Covey that had to be stepped in front of by UCLA's keeper.
After the break, both teams continued to put the clamps on each other until the 75th minute when UC Irvine had to play the remainder of regulation down a player. This did not hault the Anteater's attack as UC Irvine continued to be aggressive on the pitch.
With just 3:40 remaining in regulation, redshirt junior forward Alyssa Moore found the back of the net after heading home a goal in clutch fashion (86:21) off a beautifully executed set-peice from redshirt sophomore midfielder Alislynn Crowder to seal the deal, 1-0. With the game-clinching tally, Moore netted the sixth game-winner of the forward's career and the first of 2023.
UCLA's 24 home-match winning streak snaps to the same team that started the streak for the first place, ironically being UC Irvine. The Bruins season comes to an end at 16-2-1 overall. Prior to the match, the Bruins had outscored their opponents at Wallis Annenberg Stadium, 31-5.
Hinojosa ended the match with five saves while UCLA goalkeeper Neeku Purcell recorded a lone stop in the setback.
The Anteaters move on and advance to play the winner of No. 8 Gonzaga on Friday, Nov. 17 at 1:30 p.m. in Lincoln, Nebraska.