‘Eaters blanked

IRVINE — Even the promotions at halftime of the UC Irvine women’s soccer games make it difficult to score.

But, unlike the trio of young AYSO players who were rewarded with T-shirts after coming up short on their intermission scoring chances from about 30 yards out against an open net, failure to score earned the Anteaters nothing but continued disappointment in their Big West Conference opener Friday night at Anteater Stadium.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo scored late in the 70th minute to earn a 1-0 triumph that extended UCI’s scoreless skein in conference to nine games.

UCI, outscored, 22-0, in seven conference games last season, last scored against a Big West opponent on Oct. 25, 2005, in a 2-0 home win over Long Beach State. It was the second to the last game of the 2005 season.

The Anteaters, blanked 12 times in a 3-13-1 campaign last season, appeared to have left its offensive futility behind this season, having outscored foes a combined 19-10 coming in.

UCI (6-5-1, 0-1-0 in conference) outshot the Mustangs, 6-4, but managed just one shot on goal, while Cal Poly (3-8-1, 2-1-0) put two shots on net. Each goalkeeper had one save, but UCI freshman Danielle de Seriere had little chance on a cohesive combo put together by freshman forward Whitney Sisler and junior teammate Emily Hein.

Sisler started the scoring sequence, breaking down the right side, before crossing the ball in front. Hein, whose first goal gave the Mustangs their second conference triumph this season, after a 1-7-1 preseason, knocked the ball into the near side of the net, beyond the diving attempt by de Seriere.

“[Sisler] is quite a dynamic player and she made a great run from the inside area to outside in the channel,” UCI Coach Scott Juniper said. “Then, she was able to serve a good ball. We’ll put that down to just some good play by them, I think.”

UCI had its chances as well, particularly in the final seven minutes, when first senior Kim Horn’s shot from about 20 yards in front sailed high, then sophomore Kate Berrini, who leads the Anteaters with five goals this season, hooked a shot just wide after a one-touch leave from Horn created an open look.

“I think the girls learned a good lesson tonight that these conference games are going to be tough and we might not get a lot of chances,” Juniper said. “But when we do get chances, we’ve got to start putting them away. We created five or six good chances, half chances, should I say. And out of that, you’ve got to get a goal or two. If we get the first goal, we can change up our shape a little bit and close out the game.

“But the good thing about the conference is we’ve got another game Sunday [against visiting UC Santa Barbara] and we’ll push on for that.”

Horn pushed her way back into the game after being shaken up and sidelined early in the first half.

“The only thing she was upset about was being taken out,” Juniper said with a smile.

Horn, Nikki Forrest and Caty Cope all had one shot apiece, while Berrini had three shots, including the lone shot on net.

Hein became the seventh Mustang to record a goal this season, tying her for the team lead. Cal Poly has been outscored, 17-7, this season.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.