The UC Irvine men's soccer team secured a 3-0 victory over Sacramento State on Monday, October 19, 2026. The Anteaters maintained control of possession throughout the match, scoring once in the first half and twice in the second. UC Irvine entered the contest following a win against San Diego State University, while Sacramento State had recently defeated UC San Diego.
Play was halted in the 24th minute when Sacramento State sophomore midfielder Jesus Magaña collapsed, clutching his right knee after challenging for the ball. Sacramento State senior forward Zac Giles noted the emotional impact of the injury on his team, stating, "it’s definitely heartbreaking to see.”
The Anteaters opened scoring in the 15th minute. Junior forward Shane Kaemerle received a long pass from sophomore defender Gustavo Gonzalez, then sent the ball to the middle of the goal box. Senior forward Gage Lyons was positioned for a tap-in goal, putting UC Irvine ahead 1-0. Sacramento State's first half offensive efforts were limited, with only two shots recorded. Both attempts came in the 29th minute: a deflected shot by sophomore forward Ronan Rattigan and a follow-up wide attempt from senior forward Eli Reyneveld.
UC Irvine extended its lead in the 40th minute when senior defender Brady Treinen dribbled into the box and passed to an unmarked freshman midfielder James Arteaga, who scored with his left foot into the lower-right corner, making it 2-0. Sac State's Zac Giles explained his team's strategy after the first goal, stating, “We were trying to move the ball quicker, trying to have better movement.” The first half concluded with UC Irvine holding a 5-2 advantage in shots, while both teams committed seven fouls.
In the second half, Sacramento State continued to struggle offensively, recording only one shot in the 53rd minute when junior midfielder Hiroshi Yang’s attempt was blocked. UC Irvine increased its lead to 3-0 in the 63rd minute. Gage Lyons passed to freshman midfielder Pierce Rizzo, who took a shot from outside the box. The ball deflected off Sacramento State senior defender Nick Strangio and into the goal.
The Anteaters dominated the second half in shots, outshooting the Hornets 13-1. UC Irvine finished the game with 18 shots overall, seven of which were on goal. Sacramento State made six substitutions in the 73rd minute in an attempt to shift momentum, but the changes did not alter the game's outcome. Sacramento State head coach Matt McDougall praised his team's effort despite the loss, stating, “I love the way that the guys that came off the bench still had good energy, and were fighting for me and the team.” He also acknowledged UC Irvine's performance, adding, “That’s a good Irvine team, they’re fantastic.”
Sacramento State's record now stands at 4-8-2 overall. Freshman midfielder Adrian Alvarenga remarked on the team's upcoming schedule, stating, “we gotta reorganize and recover after this, and we’ll just come back stronger.” Sacramento State will next travel to face Oregon State University on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
