LOS ANGELES – Tyger Smalls had stepped up to take a handful of free kicks this season, but had driven just wide a handful of times. When he took the free kick in the 89th minute against UC Irvine on Thursday night, he didn't think he struck it cleanly enough, but the ball snuck through the wall and into the net for the game winner. The Lions added another to win 4-2 against the Anteaters in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night at Sullivan Field. 

 

The Lions were on the board first after Ryan Kingsford drew a penalty midway through the first half. A UC Irvine defender made a clumsy tackle right near the edge of the box and the referee signaled for a penalty kick right away. After a short review to confirm the foul occurred inside the box, the referee gave the penalty. Kingsford stepped up to the spot but the Anteaters goalkeeper made a great save. Kingsford was the first one to the rebound and put it away to give the Lions the early lead. 

 

The Lions took that lead into the second half and would eventually double the lead as the match progressed.  

 

Braden Fidelak was on the end of a cross from Ale Funetesal and headed home from the back post to double the lead. Fuentesal sent a driven arcing cross in from the corner. Fidelak made a run to the back post and found himself unmarked and with a serious height advantage. He rose up and met the ball while providing some extra pace to beat the goalkeeper and a pair of defenders. It was Fidelak's first goal of the season. 

 

The Anteaters would mount a furious comeback and score two to knot things up. The second goal came in the 77th minute.  

 

In the 88th minute, it was Smalls that took the free kick after drawing a foul and a yellow card. Smalls picked the ball up and dribbled past two defenders to put himself in a scoring position before he was dragged down from behind. After a short wait, Smalls drove a ball through the wall. It took a small deflection on the way through and was heading for the net. The goalkeeper got a hand to it, but it was not enough as the junior wheeled away into a celebration in the corner.  

 

The scoring was not done there. After a clearance from Bradyn Knutson, Anthony Wilson and Smalls were in a two-on-one with the last Anteaters defender. Wilson carried the ball forward before sliding it across the face of goal to a waiting Smalls. Smalls used a very slight deke to get the goalkeeper to dive to his left and then calmly glided past him before blasting it in from short range. The brace was Tyger's second of the season after a pair of goals early in the season at California Baptist.  

 

The Lions will face UCLA in the second round on Sunday evening in Westwood, Calif. The match will begin at 5:00 p.m. (PT) and will be broadcast on ESPN+. 

 

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