IRVINE, Calif. --- The No. 18 Anteaters' season still hangs in the balance, but nine players received All-Big West accolades headed by four seniors, three juniors, and two sophomores.

Midfielder Eduardo Calzada and defender Michael Sperber headlined the first team with the first honor for each of them. Calzada leads all Anteater scorers with seven goals and 16 points. The transfer has also posted three game-winners to lead the squad coming in matches against Pacific, Utah Valley, and UC Davis. Sperber has commandeered the defensive midfield bringing a fire and edge that's produced five shutouts and adding an assist in the 1-1 draw at Cal Poly. He was an All-Freshman Team member in 2013.

Senior captain Cameron Iwasa was the lone member of the second team. He once again is one of the few 'Eaters to start and play in every match this season burying a pair of goals while leading the club with five helpers along with team-highs firing 59 shots and 24 on target. As a junior, he earned honorable mention honors.

Lastly, six Anteaters occupy the honorable mention list led by the one returner to the list in keeper, Michael Breslin. The junior was a second-teamer last season, and added to his impressive run with a 1.06 goals-against-average and 67 saves this season helping UCI win 12 matches including two shutouts.

Elsewhere on the honorable mention list are fifth-year seniors Gor Kirakosyan and Dennis Martinez. Kirakosyan is second on the squad with five goals, four assists, and 14 points. He's also put away a pair of game-winners, both coming in overtime to drop San Diego and Loyola Marymount. Martinez has flourished netting four of his six career goals this season including game-winners over No. 25 Clemson and on the road in West Virginia.

Defender Bryan Breslin also rose to the occasion manning the backline after struggling through a concussion in the early going. Since then, he's put together some fine defensive work leading four of the club's shutouts, and had a big role by scoring the game-winner to defeat Cal State Fullerton.

Midfielder extraordinaires Mats Bjurman and Mario Ortiz complete the Anteaters honorees. Bjurman has been the glue that holds the midfield together while also starting in every match this season. He's added three assists and inserted his scoring touch with the game-winner against No. 21 Denver and the equalizer on the road against No. 6 Georgetown. Ortiz found his game as the season progressed and became a force in Big West play leading all Anteaters with three goals including game-winners to down Sacramento State and Cal State Fullerton.

The nine honorees equals the 2001 squad for the most in a single season for UC Irvine. This marks the 11^th time the 'Eaters have had seven or more award-winners and sixth time in the last seven seasons.

UCI looks to continue its run with its slew of recognized student-athletes with a matchup Saturday night, Nov. 8, at Anteater Stadium against Sacramento State in the first round of the Big West Tournament.