No. 14 UC Irvine Readies for Final Big West Stretch at CSUF, CSUN
October 28, 2014 | Men's Soccer
UPCOMING MATCHES
No. 14 UC Irvine Anteaters at Cal State Fullerton Titans
Wed. Oct. 29 / 7:00 PM
Fullerton, Calif.
No. 14 UC Irvine Anteaters at Cal State Northridge Matadors
Sat. Nov. 1 / 7:00 PM
Northridge, Calif.
PAST PRESENCE
As quickly as notoriety is bestowed, it can be relinquished just like that. The Anteaters have been feeling the glow of a top-ranked program until one week with losses to programs with a combined seven wins coming into the matches cut UCI down to size.
Conference play can be the great equalizer. Despite 11 wins and being the only program from the Big West within the rankings, UCI lies in the midst of the paritous standings.
UC Irvine recalls well the 2010 season rolling into conference play with an 8-1-1 record sitting at one point with a 13-1-3 record. Despite falling in the Big West Tournament semifinal, UCI sat at 14-3-3 and ranked No. 11 in the country, however, its name was not called for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
The 'Eaters stand in a similar position: 11-3-3, ranked No. 14 in the nation with losses to schools rated Nos. 52, 59, and 130 in RPI in the country. This season there is an underlying distinction backing the program.
The non-conference numbers speak for themselves:
A draw at No. 8 RPI Georgetown, a squad that tied No. 2 Indiana and defeated No. 9 Creighton
A neutral-site win over No. 16 RPI Clemson, a squad with a win over No. 10 Providence, draw vs. No. 18 Louisville, and a stacked schedule featuring losses to No. 4 Syracuse, No. 5 Charlotte, and No. 14 UNC
A win at No. 34 West Virginia, a squad with a win over No. 19 Penn State and tough matches with No. 17 New Mexico and No. 30 Elon
Road wins over conference leaders LMU and 12-win UNLV
Win over USD, a squad that beat No. 1 RPI UCLA
Tracking back to conference play, UCI is the only school to beat the only 1-loss squad in the nation, UC Davis
Even an exhibition win over No. 13 RPI Cal for good measure
The Anteaters can hang their hat on a stout resume, but there is plenty of soccer to go to reach that only sure-fire way to get in the tournament, a Big West title.
NUMBERS NEVER LIE
UCI followed suit the week following being ranked No. 3 in the nation with a sharp decline back down the rankings. It currently sits at No. 14 in the NSCAA/Continental Tire rankings.
The 'Eaters are also ranked in the five other notable publications:
The Bennett Rank, which relies on statistics and calculations, have the 'Eaters as the No. 18 team in the nation, its lowest in that poll of the season. The previous low was No. 15 in the preseason.
College Soccer News slid the Anteaters to No. 14 after also standing No. 3 according to CSN last week.
Top Drawer Soccer has yo-yo'd the Anteaters in the past couple weeks up from No. 10 to No. 2 and back down to No. 18 this week.
Soccer America reluctantly slotted UC Irvine at No. 4 last week, but has since dropped them back No. 14.
College Sports Madness also had UCI as No. 3 before dropping the Anteaters to No. 14 this week.
UCI earned a preseason ranking four previous times from 2009-12. Its highest preseason ranking came in 2012 at No. 13 in the nation. The 2014 Anteaters were ranked No. 16 in the preseason poll.
BACK INTO THE MIXER
UC Irvine ran through the gauntlet of losses last week. From an 89th-minute penalty kick setback Wednesday night at UC Riverside to a three-goal drubbing at the hands of CSUN and MAC Hermann Watch List striker Sagi Lev-Ari.
The results merely deflated the cushion UCI had in terms of the Big West South division. They sit alongside Cal State Fullerton in first place with identical 3-3-1 conference records and 10 points.
With UC Riverside and CSUN sitting at eight and seven points, respectively, all four positions in the division are up for grabs with three matches remaining for each squad. No combination of wins, losses, or draws on Wednesday night will solve anything in terms of Big West Tournament berths either meaning no school can win the division or be eliminated from postseason contention on Wednesday.
The picture could clear up following Saturday's matches. A pair of wins would solidify a spot in the tournament for the 'Eaters and could even secure the Big West South title given UC Riverside were to lose or draw one of its matches.
ELITE 'EATERS
The Anteaters have more from the professional ranks as a second alum has earned a spot with the U.S. National Team. Speedster Miguel Ibarra has gotten the call from Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann to join the 21-man roster for their upcoming friendlies against Ecuador and Honduras. Ibarra earned his first-ever cap entering in the 90th minute of a 1-1 draw against Honduras Tuesday, October 14.
Ibarra joins another Anteater All-American and Seattle Sounders FC captain, Brad Evans, who has made his mark with the national team over the last year scoring a game-winner in a World Cup Qualifier vs. Jamaica and earning a spot training with the final 30 before the final cutdown for the 2014 World Cup.
Evans can also hang his hat on his club team, Seattle Sounders FC, who retained the MLS Supporters' Shield for the league's best regular season record. Seattle, winners of the 2014 U.S. Open Cup, will await its opening postseason opponent as they begin play next week.
FLIPPING TO FULLERTON
UCI and Cal State Fullerton took a week to cool off from their emotional matchup at Anteater Stadium, and come together once again in Fullerton, this time as partners atop the Big West South division.
CSUF had the same slate as UCI last week drawing at UC Riverside while taking down Cal State Northridge at home, 1-0.
Tensions were high in the first meeting with six cautions issued between the squads. Bryan Breslin darted in to the rescue with a leaping volley off a corner kick to settle the match, 1-0, in UC Irvine's favor.
The winner of Wednesday night's match will have an immense leg up on the Big West South title, especially the 'Eaters would gain the tiebreaker with both wins in the season series.
In Titan Stadium, CSUF is 5-1-0 winning the last five by a combined score of 10-3 averaging just over 700 fans per match.
The Titans pride themselves on shooting with nearly 100 more shots than their opponents in 2014. UCI won the shot battle in the first matchup, 13-9, however CSUF earned six corner kicks to the 'Eaters' five.
BULLYING MATADORS
The Anteaters and Matadors have had a very unique rivalry. The higher-ranked team has lost the last five matchups between the team. This week's installment will have UCI as the higher-ranked school looking to reverse that trend.
CSUN stands at 6-8-2 on the season and 2-4-1 in Big West play in 2014. All-time, Cal State Northridge took back the series now at 20-19-5 with Saturday's win.
CSUN has had better luck at home this season with a 3-2-1 record averaging just over 650 fans in attendance.
Matador striker Sagi Lev-Ari awoke last week with a two-goal performance over the 'Eaters tripling his conference goal total.
Defender Patrick Hickman got into the act as well joining Marino Peixoto as the only other Matadors besides Lev-Ari with multiple tallies on the season. Peixoto had an opportunity to add to his total, however his penalty kick attempt in the 35th minute sailed high and struck the crossbar.
Of the five PK attempts in CSUN matches this season, only two have been converted. UCI matches have seen seven penalty kicks with three of them coming in the last week. UCI has converted all three of its chances, while opponents have missed on two opportunities including a save from Michael Breslin at Cal Poly.
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