Big West Play Begins at UC Davis, Sacramento State

UPCOMING MATCHES

UC Irvine Anteaters at UC Davis Aggies

Fri., Oct. 4, 2013 / 4:00 PM
Davis, Calif.

Audio
Live Stats
Twitter Updates: @UCImsoc / #MSOC

Series: 7 wins, 8 losses, 4 draws
Home: 5-5-2    Away: 2-3-2

Last meeting: L, 3-1 (2012 - Home)

 

UC Irvine Anteaters at Sacramento State Hornets

Sun., Oct. 6, 2013 / 1:00 PM
Sacramento, Calif.

Live Stats
Twitter Updates: @UCImsoc / #MSOC

Series: 6 wins, 5 losses, 2 draws
Home: 4-3-0    Away: 2-1-1   Neutral: 0-1-1

Last meeting: L, 2-1 (2012 - Home)

 

HEADERS

  • The Anteaters have allowed 21 shots on goal, lowest in the Big West and 10 fewer than the next school (31 - UC Santa Barbara).
  • UCI has won three consecutive matches against ranked opponents: 3-1 over No. 11 UCLA, 1-0 over No. 16 Louisville, and 1-0 win over No. 21 CSUN to end the 2012 season.
  • No. 11 UCLA was the 12th top-20 opponent UCI has defeated in program history.
  • UCI claimed its third win all-time against UCLA, second at Anteater Stadium. The three wins have come against a UCLA team ranked Nos. 2, 7, and 11.
  • UC Irvine is ranked 22nd according to Soccer America, 26th according to collegesoccernews.com after being ranked as high as 24th.
  • Anteater Stadium is approaching the 1,000-goal mark in its history, currently sitting at 997 goals by UC Irvine soccer programs.

FREE KICKS

  • UCI's non-conference schedule featured the Big East, Big Ten, Pac 12, WCC, MAAC, and WAC conferences. The Big East, Pac 12, and MAAC are represented twice.
  • The Anteaters were 1-6 vs. ranked opponents in 2012. UCI is currently 2-0 against ranked schools in 2013.
  • This season marks the sixth time in the last seven years UCI as collected five or more non-conference wins.
  • UC Irvine's non-conference opponents have a collective record of 30-35-6
  • The 'Eaters RPI currently stands are 57th in the nation including wins over RPI Nos. 3 and 14.

CORNERS

  • The 'Eaters bring back 10 starters from the 2012 squad including preseason award-winners Cameron Iwasa and Marco Franco.
  • UCI leads the Big West with a 0.85 goals-against-average.
  • UCI has five players to crack the 800-minute mark, keeper Michael Breslin is the lone 'Eater to play all 850.
  • Enrique Cardenas converted two penalty kicks vs. No. 11 UCLA. UCI has converted six of its last seven PK tries dating back to 2009
  • UCI men's soccer's win over Marist stretched its streak to ten season openers with a win and is unbeaten in 13 straight season openers (11-0-2).

IN THE BOOKS

  • Michael Breslin has seven career shutouts good for eighth in program history.
  • Breslin recorded his first career assist vs. No. 11 UCLA on Cameron Iwasa's goal.
  • Enrique Cardenas has a point (3 G, 2 A, 8 Pts) in three straight matches. He and Miguel Ibarra were the last 'Eaters with such a streak back in 2011.
  • UCI's win over No. 11 UCLA was the 250th in the history of the program.

OPPOSING VIEWS

  • Since 2007, UCI is 1-4-1 in Big West openers.
  • UCI is 7-8-4 all-time vs. UC Davis, 2-3-2 in Davis.
  • The Aggies are 4-4-1 in 2013, 2-1 at home.
  • The only common opponent on the Aggies' schedule is CSU Bakersfield which they lost to, 2-0.
  • Matt Sheldon has three of UCD's six goals including two game-winners. Ryan Gross has a pair of goals and Matt Wiesenfarth has one to his credit with each accounting for a game-winner.
  • Goalkeeper Omar Zeenni has allowed just eight goals in nine matches to go along with 27 saves.
  • UC Davis is among the bottom two of the conference in goals, assists, and fouls while being in the top half of shots and leading with 60 corner kicks.
  • UCI holds a 6-5-2 edge all-time over Sacramento State and 2-1-1 on the road despite dropping its last two meetings with them.
  • The Hornets are 2-3-3 in 2013 and winless at home including a 3-0 loss to CSU Bakersfield.
  • Junior Chimdum Mez leads the Hornets with two goals and two assists with both goals coming as game-winners. Seniors Isaac Ikyurav and Gabe Silveira have a goal and assist each.
  • Cesar Castillo's 53 saves are 20 more than the next conference keeper. He has allowed 11 goals in eight matches.

SOCCER AT THE NEXT LEVEL

  • Brad Evans has earned a spot on the U.S. National squad this year. He has made 11 total appearances including three World Cup qualifiers in 2013. He scored his first international goal in a WCQ against Jamaica, a game-winner in stoppage time.
  • Evans is also a member of the Seattle Sounders FC. He has played in 21 matches this season scoring four goals and assisting on five. Evans ranks in the top five in all major Sounders career categories.
  • Amani Walker and Andrew Fontein are teammates on the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League. Walker has two goals, one game-winner, and two assists in nine matches. Fontein has 14 saves in three starts.
  • Fontein was a part of the 2012 NASL Championship squad that defeated Walker and Miguel Ibarra.
  • Ibarra is a member of the Minnesota United FC. In 14 matches, Ibarra has one goal, two assists, and played 1,117 minutes.

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