UCI routs Utah State, 7-0

ANTEATER STADIUM - UC Irvine had no trouble Sunday, easily

defeating Utah State in Big West women’s soccer play. The outcome marked

the largest margin of victory for the Anteaters, in addition to scoring

the most goals in a game, since the end of the 1993 season when they

defeated Chapman by the same score.

Hayley McNallan once again got on the scoreboard first, a 23rd minute

goal by way of Robyn Piotrowski’s indirect kick. Caroline Kabe rounded

out the first-half scoring in the 39th minute when Gina Hintz set her up

from the right corner, the first of her three assists.

The 2-0 halftime lead ballooned in the second half as Natalie Franklin

put away the first of her two goals in the 53rd miunte.

The Anteaters would then score four times in the final minutes of

play, including Crystal Fukumoto’s first college goal only a second

before time expired.

Franklin’s second goal was off an assist from Alyson Spencer in the

79th minute, and Hintz scored off a pass from Sarah Halpenny in the 84th

minute.

Alejandra Nunez got the sixth goal with just 30 seconds remaining off

a Gina Scachetti assist, and Fukumoto’s goal mercifully ended it 29

seconds later.

Sara Swancutt had one save for UCI.

The Anteaters improve to 4-3-1, 1-0-1 in the Big West. Utah State,

3-6-1, sinks to 0-2 in the Big West.

UC Irvine travels to Pepperdine Friday for a 3 p.m. nonconference

match, and resumes Big West Play Sunday in a 1 p.m. game against invading

Long Beach State.