FULLERTON, Calif. - The No. 19 UC Irvine men's soccer team (12-4, 5-2) defeated Cal State Fullerton 4-1 Wednesday night in Big West play at Titan Stadium.

Senior Irving Garcia (San Luis, Ariz./Yavapai College) crossed the ball to junior Amani Walker (San Diego/Francis Parker HS) inside the box and Walker sent it into the net to give UCI a 1-0 lead in the 5th minute. Freshman Everett Pitts (Chino Hills/Ayala HS) took a breakaway down the right side of the field and crossed it into the box to Walker. Walker then found the back of the net for his second goal of the night putting UCI up 2-0 in the 17th minute. In the 55th minute, sophomore Jimmy Turner (Mission Viejo HS) threw the ball in to Walker who flicked the ball on to senior Kevin Santora (Los Altos/Bellermine College Prep) who knocked it with his left foot inside the right post for a 3-0 ‘Eater lead. Walker completed his first career hat trick in the 69th minute off an assist from Santora. Cal State Fullerton was awarded a penalty kick in the 78th minute following a UCI foul inside the box. Oscar Aguero took the kick for Fullerton and converted it to cut UCI’s lead to 4-1.

Junior keeper Victor Chinchilla (Palmdale/Taft College) had six saves in 81 minutes for the ‘Eaters. Freshman Elmer Avelar (Los Angeles/Cathedral HS) had one save for the ‘Eaters in nine minutes, his first action as an Anteater. Keeper Trevor Whiddon didn’t have a save in the first half for the Titans. Keeper Pablo Gonzalez had two second half saves in the net for the Titans.

The Anteaters will return home Saturday to host No. 4 UC Santa Barbara at 7:00 p.m. in Big West Conference showdown at Anteater Stadium.