Eisenberg’s Late Heroics Secure Comeback Draw

Thursday, August 20

Irvine, CA

6 p.m.

Oregon State

0-0-1, 0-0-0

UC Irvine

0-0-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Oregon St.	1	2	3
UC Irvine	2	1	3

August 20, 2026 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Athletic Communications

IRVINE, Calif. – Max Eisenberg curled a free-kick into the top-left corner of the net from nearly 30 yards out to give the Oregon State Beavers a 3-3 season-opening tie despite being a man down for over half the match.

The back-and-forth affair saw the Beavs trail three times and equalize at each opportunity.

The Anteaters opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the fourth minute after the Beavers were whistled for knocking over Gage Lyons in the area. Lyons converted the PK to put the hosts up 1-0.

Oregon State answered in the 22nd minute. Jacob Zapien intercepted a pass and the Beavs went on the attack. Oliver Hernandez Parra converted the first equalizer off two assists from Eisenberg and Michael Nesci.

The back-and-forth affair tilted back in favor of UC Irvine in the 26th minute when Christian Gallo converted a diving header that eventually sent the Anteaters into halftime with the lead. Diego Rodirguez looked to even the score at two in the 41st minute but his shot was saved.

The degree of difficulty rose for the Beavs in the closing moments of the half when Zapien was sent off for a tackle in the middle third of the pitch.

Instead, the Beavs knotted the game at a pair just two minutes into the second half. Gavin Wolff rose above a crowd of defenders to put away a corner kick from Nesci. Irvine took a 3-2 lead with an Isaac Powell goal following a chaotic play before Eisenberg closed out the scoring.

John Nicolson finished the match with six saves and made multiple plays to maintain the tie in the closing moments.

The Beavers' season-opening road trip continues Sunday at 7 p.m. against Cal State Fullerton.

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