Top Defender, Midfielder Among Anteater Accolades
November 11, 2013 | Men's Soccer
IRVINE, Calif. --- UCI's return to the top of the Big West came with its share of individual achievements as well as the south division champions posted seven student-athletes on the 2013 All-Big West team and two Players of the Year.
Seniors Enrique Cardenas and Marco Franco punctuated their tenures at Anteater Stadium by taking home the Midfielder and Defender of the Year in the Big West, respectively. Cardenas commanded the offensive statistics leading the squad with seven goals, five assists, three game-winners and 19 points. In addition, he was a perfect 3-for-3 from the penalty spot including two against No. 11 UCLA while recorded two streaks of three matches in which he registered a point.
Franco provided masterful defending with stats such as seven shutouts, 69 shots on goal allowed, 8.5 shots allowed per match, and 1,774 of the 1,788 total minutes played make up his resume. He settled into the center back position after bouncing between midfielder and defender in past seasons.
Franco's award is the first for the program since David Sias in 2008 and third overall. Cardenas brought home the top midfielder award for the first time since Matt Murphy in 2006, also the third of the program. Each player was honored with first team status amongst the Big West. For Franco, it marks his third overall and first as a member of the first team. Cardenas makes All-Big West for the first time in his career.
Rolling in with second team honors was another veteran in Christopher Santana after making honorable mention as a sophomore. The senior forward was limited early in the season with injuries, but came on late netting eight of his 10 points in conference play. Santana finished up with four goals, two assists, and two game-winners that each came in Big West matches.
Three 'Eaters populated the honorable mention list. Mileage-leaders Tarek Morad and Michael Breslin each earned their first honor. Morad also made the move to center back permanently in a season where the stats are entire on the defensive side along with his 1,776 minutes to lead all field players. Breslin owned the net playing all 1,788 minutes with a 0.91 goals-against-average, 51 saves, and a Big West-leading seven shutouts.
Alongside the defensive duo was forward Cameron Iwasa making his first appearance on the postseason team as well. The junior trailed closely behind Cardenas with six goals, four assists, two game-winners, and 16 points with four of his goals and both game-winners coming in Big West action.
The last bit of business was UCI's all-freshman team member, Michael Sperber. The midfielder is the Anteaters' first representative on this team after logging 1,400 minute and starting 15 of the 18 matches he played while also being able to rip off the occasional long-range shot.
The 2013 season marks the 10th time UC Irvine has scored seven or more all-conference members and fifth time in the last six years. The Anteaters have never taken home midfielder and defender of the year in the same season before, but have had two conference players of the year on three other occasions.
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