Irvine Advances on Goals by Ferrara, Rigamat
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IRVINE — It wasn’t exactly blind faith, but it was faith nonetheless.
UC Irvine was never flustered and hardly concerned Friday, rallying from a one-goal deficit for a 2-1 victory over Pacific in the Big West Conference women’s soccer tournament.
“You can count us out, but then you’re in trouble,” Irvine Coach Marine Cano said.
That’s the way it worked out.
Simone Ferrara and Stephanie Rigamat scored and goalkeeper Kirsten Roy made a finger-tip save with four minutes left as the Anteaters advanced to Sunday’s championship game against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The teams played in last season’s title game, with San Luis Obispo winning, 2-0.
“Pacific might have expected the other Irvine team. It wasn’t the one they got,” Cano said.
The “other Irvine” had lost, 1-0, to Pacific earlier in conference play this season on the same field. The Tigers (14-6) took a 1-0 lead Friday on a goal by Michelle Gardner in the 35th minute. If they expected the Anteaters to panic, they guessed wrong.
Ferrara tied the score just before halftime. And Nicole Bucciarelli’s touch pass to Rigamat produced the go-ahead score in the 65th minute. It was Rigamat’s eighth goal of the season.
“It was the easiest one I’ve had all year,” Rigamat said. “As soon as Booch got the ball, they went right to her. I was all alone.”
Said Bucciarelli: “The way we have been playing, we knew we could come back.”
That faith was tested when Gardner launched a shot from 20 yards with four minutes left. Roy leaped and barely deflected the ball over the crossbar. Things were going so well for the Anteaters at that point, they even got a fortunate the call. Irvine was awarded a goal kick instead of Pacific getting a corner kick.
In the other semifinal:
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 3, Cal State Fullerton 2--The Mustangs built a 3-0 lead, then held on. Delores Browning’s goal in the 86th minute pulled the Titans (7-13-1) to within a goal, but they were unable to get another shot.
Gina Oceguera, Jill Nelson and Patty Teal scored for the Mustangs (15-5).
