IRVINE, Calif. – The UC Irvine men’s soccer team (9-4, 2-2) defeated UC Riverside 4-2 Wednesday night in Big West Conference action at Anteater Stadium.

Junior Spencer Thompson (Ahwatukee, Ariz./Mountain Pointe HS) passed the ball out to the right wing where senior Irving Garcia (San Luis, Ariz./Yavapai College) blasted it to the upper left corner from 20 yards out in the 10th minute for a 1-0 UCI lead. Junior Jorge Reyes (Santa Ana/Santa Ana College) picked up a red card in the 23rd minute forcing the ‘Eaters to play with 10 players the remainder of the match. Nathan Paterson picked up his second caution of the match for a red card in the 25th minute making UCR play with 10 men on the field the remainder of the match. Thompson passed the ball to the left side to freshman Jonathan Prieto (La Habra HS) who blasted it into the net from 25 yards out giving UCI a 2-0 lead in the 31st minute. The Highlanders were awarded a penalty kick following a foul by the Anteaters inside the box. Tyler Wilson converted the kick for UCR to cut the lead to 2-1 in the 39th minute.

Cesar Diaz tied the match at 2-2 in the 59th minute as he got an assist from Xavier Perez and knocked it past the keeper who was off his line. Garcia put UCI back on top in the 68th minute as he converted on a free kick just outside the box and put it inside the left post for his second goal of the night. Garcia then found junior Amani Walker (San Diego/Francis Parker HS) on a breakway in the 73rd minute as Walker gave UCI a 4-2 advantage for the remainder of the match.

Junior keeper Victor Chinchilla (Palmdale/Taft College) had four saves for the ‘Eaters. Keeper Ryan Schmitz had three saves in the first half for UCR. Cody Suppe had three saves in the second half for the Highlanders.

The ‘Eaters next host Cal Poly Wednesday, October 21st in Big West play at 7:00 p.m. at Anteater Stadium.