LOS ANGELES -- Big West champion UC Irvine was knocked out by Loyola Marymount in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship by a final score of 4-2, Thursday at Sullivan Field.
 
The Anteaters conclude their 2023 campaign with a record of 9-7-4. LMU improves to 7-5-6. The Lions advance to the second round to play UCLA.
 
UC Irvine fought hard and came back from two score deficit in the second half. The Anteaters scored goals in the 64^th and 77^th minutes. Mario Anaya put away a free kick just outside the box into the top left corner to cut the margin to one and Rafael Espinoza equalized on a penalty kick.

ANTEATERS EQUALIZE!
UCI evens the score 2-2 in the 77th minute!#OnlyTheBold x #TWZ x #NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/bOpPqbwFbE

— The Big West (@BigWestSports) November 17, 2023

 
LMU put the game away with scores in the 89^th minute on a free kick from Tyger Smalls and 90^th minute on an empty net, also from Smalls, to account for the final score.
 
LMU took a 1-0 lead into halftime with a goal in the 39^th minute. Anteater goalkeeper Luke Pruter saved Ryan Kingsford’s penalty attempt, but Kingsford got the rebound and kicked it into the net.
 
The Lions took a 2-0 lead in the 59^th minute as Braden Fidelak headed in a corner kick from Alejandro Fuentesal.