A breathtaking win

IRVINE — Still recovering from a recent bout with pneumonia, UC Irvine freshman Kelly Block’s labored breathing in practices has earned her the nickname Wheezey.

But with a dramatic goal to break a 2-2 tie with only 61 seconds left in the Anteaters’ women’s soccer exhibition match with visiting Cal State San Bernardino Monday, Block allowed UCI players, coaches and fans to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Block leaped to get a foot on a cross from sophomore teammate Tanya Taylor, who chased down a through ball on the left wing, to help UCI avert what would have been a potentially deflating tie with the Division II Coyotes.

“I think 2-2 would have been a disappointing result,” said UCI Coach Scott Juniper, who in his first season at the helm guided the Anteaters to an 11-7-2 record last season and the program’s second trip to the Big West Conference Tournament in 10 years. “I think the girls did well to find a way to win the game. Kelly was thrilled to score that goal. She had pneumonia two weeks ago.”

UCI appeared to have too much for the visitors from the start, as junior Kate Berrini scored the first of her two first-half goals just 3:57 into the contest. Berrini, who shared the team lead with five goals last season from a center midfielder position, started at forward alongside Taylor.

“Kate had such a fantastic year last year and she came into training camp and surprised everyone with how lethal she has been in front of the goal,” Juniper said. “That’s why she started at forward.”

Sophomore Sarah Busby was credited with an assist on the first goal, but UCI put together a much more orchestrated attack to double its lead in the 25th minute.

Sophomore Milana Shabestari initiated the threat by flipping a looping pass forward to Taylor who was streaking past a defender on the right wing. Taylor rocketed a cross in front of the net and Berrini redirected the ball past the goalkeeper for a 2-0 cushion.

UCI, which had 10 shutouts in 2007, appeared to become more conservative, even shifting Berrini to the four-player backline occupied in the first half by Shea Roberts, Kat Lemieux, Busby and Rachel Flemming.

The UCI defense controlled play in the opening 45 minutes, when goalkeeper Erin Henry faced just one shot that did not require a save.

UCI, meanwhile, scored on half of its four shots in the opening half.

But San Bernardino, 8-8-4 a year ago, halved the deficit on a Lauren Zellmer goal in the 58th minute, then knotted the score on a penalty kick by Lindsay Jordan in the 81st minute.

The penalty kick came after a foul was called on UCI in the 18-yard box during a loose-ball situation in which UCI freshman goalie Erica Quevedo, who played the entire second half, was caught out of the cage and unable to gain possession.

“That was really annoying when they tied it,” Berrini said. “Then, I felt like they were just trying to hold on and they would have been happy with the tie. That was not going to make me very happy.”

But thanks to the late goal, UCI emerged all smiles.

“I think winning is something that becomes a habit,” Juniper said. “We talk a lot about pride and at 2-2, that’s really got to kick your pride. That should get an emotional reaction out of our players, to refuse to lose or refuse to not get the win at home in that situation. But that [close game] should keep our feet on the ground.”

Juniper said Taylor, who finished with two assists, stood out in a game in which he played every available player.

“She’s so explosive and she’s a lot more thoughtful with the ball,” Juniper said.

UCI opens the regular season Sunday at home against UNLV at 7 p.m.