'Eaters are No. 8 National Seed, Await Opponent
November 14, 2011 | Men's Soccer
THIS WEEK'S ACTION
NCAA TOURNAMENT SECOND ROUND
SAINT MARY'S/CSUB WINNER at
(8) UC IRVINE ANTEATERS
Sunday, November 20, 2011 - 6:00 PM
Irvine, Calif. - Anteater Stadium
UC Irvine men's soccer found out its placement in this year's 2011 College Cup this afternoon, and learned that they are the No. 8-seed in the nation. The Big West regular season and tournament champion UC Irvine men's soccer team found its spot in the NCAA Tournament, and it will start here in Irvine as the No. 8 national seed in the bracket.
UC YOU LATER: UC Irvine is Big West champs once again, and it has a very familiar ring to it. For the third time in the last four years, the 'Eaters won the Big West Tournament, and all three of those years have now taken out the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in the championship game.
This was the first Big West final to go into overtime as UCI was able to end it in the 105th minute, 3-2, thanks to Miguel Ibarra's (Lancaster / Taft College) rebound strike solidifying him as the tournament MVP. He joins volunteer assistant, Carlos Aguilar, from 2009, and current keeper, Andrew Fontein (Las Vegas, Nev. / Sierra Vista HS), who did it as a freshman. Overall, the team has outscored the Gauchos 11-5 in those matches.
SÌ SEÑIOR: UC Irvine's men have built something that is not easy to do in Southern California. This senior class has been undoubtedly the most decorated in 'Eater history under head coach George Kuntz's 17th season at the helm.
UCI has now won 60 matches in the last four seasons to go along with the three Big West Tournament titles and three regular season titles.
Since the inception of the Big West Tournament at the beginning of this senior class's tenure, UCI is now 6-1 overall and have scored three or more goals in each championship match.
Senior Jimmy Turner (Mission Viejo / Mission Viejo HS) has led the charge playing in 81 matches, second overall in program history.
Senior keeper Andrew Fontein has started 72 matches in net, fifth-most among all 'Eaters and tops amongst keepers, to go along with all of the records he has set in goal.
CALIFORNIA ON THE HORIZON: UCI has a little extra time before its tournament starts, and a little extra time to get to know its potential opponent.
The CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners (12-3-5) will host the first-round match against the Saint Mary's Gaels (8-6-5). Saint Mary's won the WCC regular season title while CSUB earned an at-large bid out of the MPSF conference.
The Gaels return to the tournament after earning a berth in 2009 while CSUB is making its first. The Gaels have won four of their last five matches while CSUB has lost all three matches in its last eight games including a loss in the conference championship on penalty kicks. Among common opponents, Saint Mary's has a win and a tie with USD, beaten Gonzaga twice, lost at No. 3 Creighton and at UCR while defeating UC Davis, the only Big West foe to defeat UC Irvine. CSUB has wins over UNLV, Gonzaga, and UC Riverside and ties with UC Davis, CSUN, and CSUF.
The Gaels have kept the matches low-scoring posting 19 goals and allowing 17 on the year. Julian Godinez (3 G, 0 GWG, 6 A) and Agustin Cazarez (4 G, 3 GWG, 2 A) were the only two with double-digit point seasons.
Gyasi Zardes has 18 of CSUB's 39 goals, four game-winners, and is far-and-away the Runners No. 1 threat with almost the same amount as Saint Mary's season total. CSUB has five players with double-digits in points, and complimenting Zardes is Jesus Sanchez with three goals and 13 assists.
Both keepers, Eric Shannon of CSUB and Doug Herrick of Saint Mary's, have allowed 17 goals while saving 71 shots.
The Runners and Gaels met once this year ending in a scoreless tie. All-time, the Anteaters are 4-1 against CSUB and won their last meeting in 2010, 4-0, on a neutral site. Saint Mary's is 5-3-1 against UCI including a 2-1 overtime win in their last matchup in 2009.
UCI is making its third appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Overall, the 'Eaters are 1-2 losing at home to Stanford in the second round in 2009 and making it to the Sweet Sixteen in 2008 with a 3-0 home win over Cal Poly and a 3-2 loss at St. John's.
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